• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.810-819
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to evaluate port use and the distribution of risk factors in 15 major ports in Korea, delineating the risk of each port after classifying the ports into four risk groups based on estimated risks. The placement of response vessels is then analyzed accordingly. Based on the results, danger was estimated to be especially high in ports where large-scale petrochemical facilities are located, such as Yeosu Gwangyang ports (1.85), Ulsan port (1.33) and Daesan port (1.25). The ports showing the next highest degree of danger were Pusan (0.95) and Incheon (0.83), which have significant vessel traffic, followed by Mokpo (0.71) and Jeju (0.49), which expanded their port facilities recently and saw an increase in large vessel traffic. Next is Masan (0.44), for which many fishing permits in the vicinity. When the relative ratios of each port were graded based on the Yeosu Gwangyang Ports, which showed the highest risk values, and risk groups were classified into four levels, the highest risk groups were Yeosu Gwangyang, Ulsan, Daesan and Pusan, with Incheon, Mokpo, Jeju, and Masan following. Pyeongtaek Dangjin, Pohang, Gunsan, and Donghae Mukho were in the mid-range danger group, and the low risk groups were Samcheonpo, Okgye, and Changsungpo. Among these, all response vessel placement ports specified by current law were above the mid-range risk groups. However, we can see that ports newly included in mid-range risk group, such as Mokpo, Jeju, and Donghae Mukho, were excluded from the pollution response vessel placement system. Therefore, to prepare for marine pollution accidents these three ports should be designated as additional response vessel placement ports.