• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.64-73
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• 2024

Oil spills pose significant threats to marine ecosystems, human health, socioeconomic aspects, and coastal communities. Accurate real-time predictions of oil slick transport along coastlines are paramount for quick preparedness and response efforts. This study used an open-source OpenOil numerical model to simulate the fate and trajectories of oil slicks released during the 2007 Hebei Spirit accident along the Korean coasts. Six combinations of input parameters, derived from a five-day met-ocean dataset incorporating various hydrodynamic, meteorological, and wave models, were investigated to determine the input variables that lead to the most reasonable results. The predictive performance of each combination was evaluated quantitatively by comparing the dimensions and matching rates between the simulated and observed oil slicks extracted from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data on the ocean surface. The results show that the combination incorporating the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) for hydrodynamic parameters exhibited more substantial agreement with the observed spill areas than Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), yielding up to 88% and 53% similarity, respectively, during a more than four-day oil transportation near Taean coasts. This study underscores the importance of integrating high-resolution met-ocean models into oil spill modeling efforts to enhance the predictive accuracy regarding oil spill dynamics and weathering processes.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

In this paper, the authors carried out the study to develop oil spill response training courses for competent responders examining IMO guidelines, response training courses of maritime development countries and Korea response. According to a result of study, fundamental training courses are to be established on the basis of IMO guideline, and also to prepare pre-arranged brief course like Basics of Spill Response for beginner. The courses should be step-by-step related with mutual continuous contents, and more times are given to on-site training for basic course and to classroom lecture with desk-top exercise for advanced course. Besides, SCAT shall be added to shoreline cleanup course, finally it is advisable that total 9 types of courses are established with additional refresh course.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

The underlying principle of environmental conservation and restoration is to receive continuous services from nature. In this context, the basic objective of oil spill response and recovery activities is to allow affected residents to retain sustainability of their daily livelihood and productive environment. Hence, monitoring the status of socio-economic impact and the extent of restoration is an important parameter in the restoration effort to repair the damaged functions of environmental services with oil spill accident. However, assessment of socio-economic impact poses investigators with much difficulties in selecting the most appropriate approaches because the process often involves various stakeholders, directly and indirectly. Moreover, the analyses and interpretation of the results also pose a great challenge. The present study monitored fisheries and tourism numbers which were considered as major local socio-economic indicators of living and production environment affected by M/T Hebei Spirit oil-spill accident. This monitoring was conducted by examining the published papers and statistical reports. This was supplemented by surveying how the local residents actually felt about the damage and recovery for the first time in Korea. The results showed that the rate of the recovery was about 40~50 %, and the rate of the recovery seemed to be slowed or decreased. However, what the local residents actually felt was 2~10 points less than the literature surveys and statistical reports. These results suggested limits to using only the literature and statistical surveys for the traditional socio-economic impact assessment. The study also showed the need to include in the impact assessment process what and how the local residents actual feel about the oil spill damage and recovery process.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.89-120
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• 2008

With petroleum being a major source of energy in Korea, the quantity of petroleum transported via ocean routes is on its way up due to increased consumption. Due to the increase, more than 300 cases of pollution caused by petroleum occur annually. Moreover, the number of oil-spill accidents is also on the rise. Causes of such accidents, not including the disposal of waste oil on purpose, turn out to be human error during navigation or defects in the vessels, showing that most accidents are caused by humans. Therefore, to prevent future oil spills, it is imperative that navigation efficiency be enhanced by improving the quality of navigators and replacing old vessels with newer ones. Nevertheless, such improvements cannot occur overnight, so long- and mid-term efforts should be made to achieve it institutionally. As large-scale oil-spill accidents can happen at anytime along the coastal waters of Korea, it is necessary to set-up institutional devices which go beyond the compensation limit of 92FC. The current special law regarding this issue has its limits in that it prescribes compensation be supplemented solely by national taxes. Therefore, the setting-up of a new 'national fund' is recommended for consideration rather than to subscribe to the '2003 Convention for the Supplementary Fund'. It is strongly suggested that a National fund be created from fees collected from oil companies based on the risks involved in oil transportation and according to the profiteers pay principle. In addition, a public fund should be created to handle general environmental damage, such as the large-scale destruction of the ecosystem, which is distinct from the economic damage that harms the local people. The posterior responses to the large-scale oil spill have always been unsatisfactory because of the symbolic nature of the disasters included in such accidents. Oil-spills can be prevented in advance, because they are caused by human beings. But once they occur, they inflict long-term damage to both human life and the natural ecosystem. Therefore, the best response to future oil-spills is to work to prevent them.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.282-287
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• 2018

Due to limitations in responding to oil spill incidents that are urgent or that cover a wide area with only oil spill response vessels, Korea Coast Guard (KCG) patrol vessels are utilized. In this study, we have developed an oil sweep system suitable for small patrol vessels. The equipment consists of three components - fixed support, poles, and slide fixers - and can be fastened with a toggle pin to a fall prevention bar on small patrol vessels without welding or additional efforts for installation. The respective weights of each component - fixed support, poles (2 pcs), and slide fixers (4 pcs) - are approximately 9.2 kg, 6.5 kg, and 3.5 kg. The 3 m-pole, which is rotatable 180 degrees horizontally, is folded deckward when replacing oil absorbents. As the development of this equipment has improved the method of deploying and retrieving oil absorbents on KCG small patrol vessels, we expect that more efficient oil spill cleanup will be possible.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.407-417
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• 2002

Japanese oil companies have begun to set up a mutual support system to prepare for any large scale oil spillages due to the huge increase in size of tankers since 1973. In 1990, the Petroleum Association of Japan established the Oil Spill Response Department and has been conducting researches on management of oil spill combatting materials and the effective prevention of maritime oil disasters. Japan Coast Guard, in accordance with the regulations of the OPRC in 1995, formulated the national contingency plan and built a mutual-contact network among the related government institutions. Its Guard & Rescue Department. Disaster Prevention Section has been working for the maintenance of oil spill combatting materials and coordinating related work with private organizations. The Japanese government has been strengthening the maritime oil spillage management system since the Nakhodka wreck incident in 1997.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2009

In this paper, the author carried out the study to develop oil spill response training courses for competent responders examining IMO guidelines and response training courses of developed maritime countries as well as Korea. According to a result of study, fundamental training courses are to be established on the basis of IMO guideline, and also to prepare pre-arranged brief course like Basics of Spill Response for beginner. The courses should be step-by-step related with mutual continuous contents, and more times are given to on-site training for basic course and to classroom lecture with desk-top exercise for advanced course. Besides, SCAT shall be added to shoreline cleanup course, finally it is advisable that total 9 types of courses are established with additional refresh course.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.132-132
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• 2017

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.128-155
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• 1998

Recently , our govermment makes effort to prevent oil pollutin at sea. However, we still remain vulnerable to oil spills near the borders it shares with China, Japan and Russia due to legal and administrative impedements associated with cross-boundary spill response activity. For a reasonalbel domestic implementation of the International Conventions related oil pollution , our government has already accepted several Conventions such as SOLA 74 , MARPOL 73/78, STCW 78, CLC 69 and FC 71 except an International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990. Therefore, this paper explores comprehesive legal structure applicable for future domestic legislation of international preparedness , response and co-operation on the base of the Convention, 1990. And also preliminary legal researches are to be done for earlier acceptance of the Convention, 1990. Consequently it is necessary to prepare natinal contigency plan and bilateral or multilateral agreements for oil pollution preparedness and response with adjacent natinos prior to acceptance of the Convention . In addition , it is also necessary that neighboring nations must take action to facilitate cross-boundary activities by responders providing responder immunity protection and by removing potential impediments to response activities by appropriate law and other requirements such as customs , immigration , and safety training.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.134-134
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• 2017