Risk of Accidents in Yeosu Myodo Strait Increases 42.5 Times in 5 Years

Assemblyman Joo Cheol-hyun, "Rapid Promotion Needed by Exempting Preliminary Feasibility Study for Route Expansion and Dredging Straightening Projects"

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] The Myodo Strait in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, has seen a 42.5-fold increase in maritime traffic congestion and accident risk due to severe vessel queuing over the past five years, urgently necessitating a route straightening project.

According to Joo Cheol-hyun, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party, Yeosu Gap), the maritime traffic safety diagnosis from the 2020 "Gwangyang Port Safe Navigation Feasibility Study" showed that the ship maneuvering simulation evaluation for Myodo Strait revealed a collision probability due to route deviation approximately 663 times higher than the recommended standard (1/10,000).

This result represents a 42.5-fold increase compared to the navigation safety review conducted in 2015.

Ships using the Myodo Strait, the entry and exit route for Yeosu Petrochemical Wharf, are carrying hazardous cargo, making large-scale oil pollution damage and enormous economic losses inevitable in the event of a maritime accident.

Moreover, since the 4th National Port Basic Plan includes new wharf developments and plans such as the GS Caltex new wharf, LG Chemical product wharf, and the 2nd petrochemical wharf, the number of ships using the Myodo Strait is expected to increase further.

The section between Songdo and Sodangdo, where part of the Myodo Strait route is narrow (185m~205m), sees an average of 74 vessels passing daily.

Because of this, vessels navigating the Myodo Strait operate under an abnormal system, including a speed limit of 8 knots and prohibition of passing, compared to the maximum operating speed of 12 knots within Gwangyang Port.

During last month's National Assembly audit, Assemblyman Joo Cheol-hyun pointed out that from 2016 to June 2021, the vessel queuing rate at the four Yeosu petrochemical wharves (Jungheung, Nakpo, Sapo, Petrochemical) was 20 to 40 times higher than major domestic ports such as Busan Port (0.28%), Ulsan Port (1.75%), and Incheon Port (0.75%), threatening maritime safety.

Assemblyman Joo urged the prompt implementation of a route straightening project through partial removal of Sodangdo and Songdo within the Myodo Strait, the entry and exit route for Yeosu Petrochemical Wharf, which accounts for 48% of Yeosu Gwangyang Port's cargo volume, securing a route width of 300m and dredging work.

He further asserted that active national port investments should be made to widen and deepen the route in some sections of the Myodo Strait not included in the 4th Port Basic Plan.

Additionally, he emphasized that "the solution to the Myodo Strait route, where navigation safety has increased 42.5 times in five years, is the route straightening project," and that "this should be promoted as a project exempt from preliminary feasibility studies, as it is a safety project for smooth vessel navigation."

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Sim Kyung-taek simkt7@asiae.co.kr

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