The Central Regional Coast Guard announced on the 13th that the amount of pollutants spilled in marine pollution incidents that occurred within its jurisdiction from Incheon to Boryeong, Chungnam last year decreased compared to the previous year.

According to marine pollution accident statistics, a total of 50 marine pollution incidents occurred last year, with 15.5㎘ of pollutants spilled. While the number of incidents remained the same as the previous year, the amount of pollutants spilled decreased by 10.9㎘.

The Coast Guard is conducting maritime containment operations. Photo by Central Regional Coast Guard Headquarters

Since 2022, the Central Regional Coast Guard has established prevention mobile units at the Incheon and Pyeongtaek Coast Guard stations and a mobile containment unit at the Taean Coast Guard station. Last year, they conducted seven transfer operations to move oil from accident vessels to other ships or safe locations, handling a total of 45.4㎘ of oil. This is more than ten times the transfer volume in 2023 (4.2㎘), resulting in a 41% decrease in total spill volume last year.

The number of incidents by sea area last year was 16 in Pyeongtaek, 14 in Taean, 10 in Boryeong, and 10 in Incheon.

Oh Sang-kwon, Chief of the Central Regional Coast Guard, stated, "Even a single marine accident such as a ship collision can lead to a catastrophic large-scale marine pollution incident," and urged, "Please ensure safe navigation of vessels until July, when fog frequently occurs."

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