Jeju Coast Guard Conducts 'Coastal Defense Training' at Iho Beach

Published 26 Oct.2022 16:32(KST)

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] Jeju Maritime Police Station (Chief Park Sangwook) announced on the 26th that it conducted the ‘2022 Civil-Government Joint Coastal Defense Training’ at Iho Beach in Jeju City to strengthen the capability to respond to coastal pollution in preparation for marine pollution accidents.

The training was attended by about 100 people from 16 related organizations and expert committees, including local governments, the Jeju Fisheries Research Institute of the National Institute of Fisheries Science, the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, the Fisheries Cooperative, the Marine Autonomous Defense Corps, honorary marine monitors, POSCO Construction, and marine pollution volunteers.

The exercise simulated a scenario where 10 kiloliters of low-sulfur oil leaked into the sea from a damaged cargo tank after a collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship 3.7 km northwest off Jeju Port, with the spilled oil adhering to various parts of Iho Beach.

The coastal pollution assessment team decided on the appropriate defense operations based on the conditions at the pollution site, proceeding in order with high-pressure washing of the breakwater, removal of oil adhered to the sandy beach, installation of a temporary waste storage site, and coastal pollution monitoring.

In particular, with growing interest in blue carbon, Researcher Kwak Jeonghyun from the Jeju Fisheries Research Institute of the National Institute of Fisheries Science was invited to provide education on the types of blue carbon along the Jeju coast, its impact on the coastal environment, and the importance of its preservation, helping participants better understand the coastal environment.

A Jeju Maritime Police official stated, “We plan to continuously conduct coastal defense training in preparation for oil spill accidents together with related organizations to cultivate crisis management capabilities for accidents and strengthen the response system among related organizations.”