Yeosu Coast Guard Reports Slight Decrease in Marine Pollution Incidents Compared to Previous Year

Published 18 Jan.2023 09:11(KST)

23 Pollution Accidents in Eastern Region, Half Caused by Negligence

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] Jeonnam Yeosu Coast Guard Station (Chief Park Je-su) announced on the 18th that "23 marine pollution accidents occurred in the eastern sea area of Jeonnam last year, resulting in approximately 3,634ℓ of pollutants being discharged."

According to Yeosu Coast Guard, a total of 23 marine pollution accidents occurred in the eastern sea area of Jeonnam last year, showing a decrease of one case compared to the previous year. However, the amount of pollutants increased by 94ℓ to about 3,634ℓ compared to the previous year.

It is analyzed that the discharge volume slightly increased due to accidents such as pollutants flowing into the sea caused by the rupture of connected pipelines within vessels last year.

Patrol vessels are conducting marine pollution prevention operations. [Photo by Yeosu Coast Guard]

By cause of marine pollution accidents, careless accidents due to human factors such as negligence in oil transfer operations accounted for 13 cases (56.5%), making up the majority, followed by accidents caused by damage to hulls and equipment with 7 cases (30.4%).

In addition, marine pollution accidents caused by cargo ships accounted for 9 cases, representing 39.1% of all accidents, and the amount of pollutants discharged was about 3,137ℓ (86.3%), making up most of the total.

The Coast Guard has established a 24-hour accident response system on both sea and land, strengthened surveillance activities in vulnerable areas, and is responding to various changes in marine accident conditions while also conducting education and publicity to change the awareness of marine workers.

Yang Gwan, head of the Marine Pollution Prevention Division at Yeosu Coast Guard, said, "We will strengthen the public-private joint prevention cooperation system to prepare for and respond to large-scale marine pollution accidents and create a safe and clean sea through focused management of major marine pollution risk factors."