Mokpo Coast Guard Conducts Hazardous Chemical Accident Response Drill

Assuming a Chemical Spill at Sea from a 3500-ton Cargo Ship

Mokpo Coast Guard is conducting a joint hazardous chemical accident response drill with related agencies. Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] On the 28th at 2 p.m., the Mokpo Coast Guard announced on the 29th that it conducted a joint civil-government-military hazardous chemical substance (HNS) accident response drill at Daebul Pier in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, to strengthen complex disaster response capabilities on land and sea.

Hosted by the Mokpo Coast Guard, this drill involved over 140 participants from 10 organizations, groups, and companies, including the Coast Guard, the 3rd Fleet of the Navy, Mokpo Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, Yeongam County Office, Yeongam Fire Station, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, Korea National Park Service, and Leadcorp Co., Ltd.

The drill simulated a scenario where an unexplained explosion and fire occurred on a 3,500-ton cargo ship docked carrying hazardous chemicals, resulting in the chemical substances leaking into the sea.

In particular, the scenario involved the leakage of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a substance frequently handled at local piers, into the sea, to test mission execution at each stage of the situation, inter-agency cooperation, and situation management systems.

Following the chemical accident response manual, the Coast Guard focused on strengthening accident response capabilities by organically collaborating with related agencies through step-by-step actions such as ▲accident situation dissemination ▲life rescue ▲fire suppression ▲hazardous material detection ▲establishment of a warning zone ▲hazardous material decontamination ▲marine pollution control response.

A Mokpo Coast Guard official stated, “Through this joint drill, we will improve our crisis management capabilities for chemical accidents and enhance disaster prevention and pollution control response systems through continuous work sharing and cooperation with related agencies.”

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