Major Oil Spill Off Sοuth Korea

[proud_ionian]

Source: Examiner, The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (Map, News) - A crane-carrying vessel collided with an oil tanker off of South Korea's west coast on Friday, spilling more than 66,000 barrels of crude oil in what was believed to be South Korea's largest offshore oil leak, officials said.

A Hong Kong-registered tanker spills oil into the sea after an accident near Mallipo beach, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 7, 2007. South Korea's Coast Guard said Friday that the oil spill from the tanker collision was significantly lower than originally estimated, announcing that about 10,500 kiloliters (66,043 barrels; 2.77 million gallons) of crude oil had spilled into waters off the country's west coast.

Officials at the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry, citing Coast Guard reports, initially said about 110,000 barrels had leaked from the Hong Kong-registered tanker. But the Coast Guard later said additional information indicated the amount was significantly lower - about 66,043 barrels.

The accident occurred around 7:10 a.m. when the crane-carrying vessel slammed into the 146,000-ton tanker Hebei Spirit in waters off Mallipo beach, some 93 miles southwest of Seoul.

Strong winds and prevailing currents meant oil was expected to start washing up on shore and flow into fishing grounds and fishing farms, about 6 miles from the leak, by Saturday morning, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Maritime authorities set up a special fence 5 miles in length to try and contain the oil, the statement said. The slick was 4.6 miles long and over 1 mile wide, the ministry said.

The spill occurred in a region known for its scenic beaches, including Mallipo. It is also home to a national maritime park and an important refueling stop for migratory birds.

Chang Geun-ho, a Maritime and Fisheries Ministry official, said the extent of environmental damage would depend on the success of the containment operation, though he added that cold winter weather can help slow the spread of the oil slick.

The Coast Guard said 46 ships and four helicopters were involved in the clean-up operation.

It also said that the collision left holes in three containers aboard the tanker. By noon, all three containers had stopped leaking, Cho Sung-won, a regional Coast Guard spokesman, said.

YTN, a 24-hour cable news channel, showed footage of the black oil gushing out of the ship and into the ocean.

The tanker was carrying about 260,000 tons of crude oil - or about 1.8 million barrels, the Coast Guard said.

Officials at the ministry and the Coast Guard said the accident was believed to be South Korea's largest offshore oil leak.

The previously largest oil spill in South Korea happened in 1995 when about 5,035 tons - some 35,000 barrels - of crude and fuel oil was leaked, the Coast Guard said.

In 1989, the Exxon Valdez supertanker released about 260,000 barrels, or 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound in what turned into a major environmental disaster.

[uddox]

‘Hebei Spirit’ case comes to a head - tanker operator

(Jan 4 2008)

The South Korean prosecutor has charged several parties involved in the ‘Hebei Spirit’ oil spill while the VLCC remains impounded.

Reports emanating from South Korea, said that the Taean Coast Guard, which is responsible for recommending prosecutions, has sent the master and chief mate of the VLCC, both tug masters and the crane master to the prosecutor along with barge owner Samsung Heavy Industries and Hebei Spirit Shipping. All are charged with violations of maritime pollution prevention law.

According to the Coast Guard, the tug captains and the floating crane barge master tried to sail despite bad weather and the latter collided with the ‘Hebei Spirit’ causing an oil spill.

The tanker’s master received a call from Daesan Port warning him to take safety measures to avoid collision at 0627 on 7th December, 40 minutes before the incident, but it is alleged that he failed to take adequate measures. He reportedly cited "internal problems" with his vessel for failing to steer out of the path of the tugs and tow.

A towline between the crane and one of the tugboats severed about 15 minutes before the accident and the tanker did not move out of the way in time, a coast guard report said.

The authorities claimed that as a result of the collision, 12,547 tonnes of oil were spilt, causing huge environmental damage.

By the end of December, the cost of clean-up operations had reached nearly W10.4 bill ($11 mill).

The 269,605 dwt, single hull VLCC is now in custody of the Korea Marine Pollution Response Corp.

This incident has prompted South Korea to review the movement of single hull tankers in its waters.