Publication of the Case Study on Low-Sulfur Fuel Oil Maintenance Analysis by the Korea Coast Guard in an International Journal

Experts in marine oil spill forensics are collecting samples.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Coast Guard announced on the 27th that the paper on 'Low Sulfur Fuel Oil Fingerprint (Oil Spill Fingerprint) Analysis Case' has been published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, an SCI-level academic journal in the marine field.

The Korea Coast Guard Research Center, a specialized institution for maritime oil spill identification and analysis, published for the first time in the world in an SCI-level international journal the fingerprint analysis case of a low sulfur fuel oil marine pollution accident that occurred for the first time in Korea at Gwangyang Port in December 2019.

In this analysis case, the unique chemical characteristics of low sulfur fuel oil were revealed, and by applying statistical techniques used in European standard analysis methods, the similarity between oil spilled from ships using low sulfur fuel oil and marine oil spills was confirmed, showcasing the Korea Coast Guard's fingerprint analysis capabilities to the world.

Meanwhile, since the implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s fuel sulfur content regulation (use of sulfur content 0.5% or less) from January last year, the use of low sulfur fuel oil has increased, but research on this is still very insufficient.

The Korea Coast Guard has been leading domestic research on low sulfur fuel oil, starting with research on the physical and chemical properties of low sulfur fuel oil and response to prevention and control last year.

A Korea Coast Guard official stated, "We will do our best to enhance our identification capabilities for various types of maritime oil spills and scientific response capabilities to rapidly changing marine environments."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.