Korea Oil Spill2.8 million gallons of Crude Oil

Korea Oil Spill2.8 million gallons of Crude Oil

U.S. Assessment Team Daily Brief for 18DEC07

Team Members: LCDR Joseph Loring, USCG Pacific Strike Team CWO Mark Gregory, USCG Pacific Strike Team MSTC Jonathan Grimes, USCG Pacific Strike Team Edwin Levine, US NOAA

Prepared By LCDR Joe Loring

USCG Pacific Strike Team

U.S. Assessment Team Daily Brief for 18DEC07

Team Members: LCDR Joseph Loring, USCG Pacific Strike Team CWO Mark Gregory, USCG Pacific Strike Team MSTC Jonathan Grimes, USCG Pacific Strike Team Edwin Levine, US NOAA

Prepared By LCDR Joe Loring

USCG Pacific Strike Team

Background: A barge owned by Samsung collided with the

M/V HEBEI SPIRIT on December 8, 2007, 10 km (6.2

miles) off the coast of South Korea, west of Taean county.

The M/V HEBEI SPIRIT sustained 3 large punctures and

subsequently released an estimated 2.8 million gallons of

crude oil. The vessel is currently anchored and has

temporary patches on all of the punctures. Over 160 km (100 miles) of coastline have been

impacted, with the heaviest concentrations of oil being

Teaen county and points 30 miles to the north.

Background: A barge owned by Samsung collided with the

M/V HEBEI SPIRIT on December 8, 2007, 10 km (6.2

miles) off the coast of South Korea, west of Taean county.

The M/V HEBEI SPIRIT sustained 3 large punctures and

subsequently released an estimated 2.8 million gallons of

crude oil. The vessel is currently anchored and has

temporary patches on all of the punctures. Over 160 km (100 miles) of coastline have been

impacted, with the heaviest concentrations of oil being

Teaen county and points 30 miles to the north.

Present SituationPresent Situation

Korea Coast Guard’s main office is located in Incheon, Korea, approximately 100 miles from the impact area. They have set up a forward operating EOC in Taean County.

There is an astounding amount of volunteer involvement, with full support from the government.

At this point, there is no Responsible Party designated . Korea Coast Guard is conducting an investigation to determine whether the collision occurred at the fault of the owner/operator of the M/V HEBEI SPIRIT, or the owners of the Samsung Crane Barge.

The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) officially requested U.S. Government assistance via letter on December 10, 2007.

Clean-up operations are generating a tremendous amount of oiled debris. The debris and oiled waste is being collected by Korea Ministry of Environment.

Korea Coast Guard’s main office is located in Incheon, Korea, approximately 100 miles from the impact area. They have set up a forward operating EOC in Taean County.

There is an astounding amount of volunteer involvement, with full support from the government.

At this point, there is no Responsible Party designated . Korea Coast Guard is conducting an investigation to determine whether the collision occurred at the fault of the owner/operator of the M/V HEBEI SPIRIT, or the owners of the Samsung Crane Barge.

The Korea Coast Guard (KCG) officially requested U.S. Government assistance via letter on December 10, 2007.

Clean-up operations are generating a tremendous amount of oiled debris. The debris and oiled waste is being collected by Korea Ministry of Environment.

Situation continuedSituation continued

The volunteer support continues. The volunteers are hail from all areas of Korea. Volunteers sign up via a website. Provinces throughout the nation have set up pickup areas where volunteers gather and are subsequently bused to the various cleanup locations. They are then bused home each evening. There are volunteers from as far away as Pusan, roughly 200 miles.

The punctures in the hull of the M/V HEBEI SPIRIT were located in port cargo tanks #1, #3 & #5. Each tank contained a different product. Fortunately, though all different, each was a light Arabian crude with very similar characteristics.

The are oil spill specialist from Japan (7), the UN (5) and EC (5). These teams are scheduled to depart OOA 21DEC07.

The waste stream appears to have been worked out. It is backed up a bit, but a system is in place that appears to be working.

The volunteer support continues. The volunteers are hail from all areas of Korea. Volunteers sign up via a website. Provinces throughout the nation have set up pickup areas where volunteers gather and are subsequently bused to the various cleanup locations. They are then bused home each evening. There are volunteers from as far away as Pusan, roughly 200 miles.

The punctures in the hull of the M/V HEBEI SPIRIT were located in port cargo tanks #1, #3 & #5. Each tank contained a different product. Fortunately, though all different, each was a light Arabian crude with very similar characteristics.

The are oil spill specialist from Japan (7), the UN (5) and EC (5). These teams are scheduled to depart OOA 21DEC07.

The waste stream appears to have been worked out. It is backed up a bit, but a system is in place that appears to be working.

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONSTODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS

This morning we visited several clean up sites to observe progress and to collect a few oil samples.

There is still a large number of shoreline cleaners that include, volunteers, police, military, KCG, and local industry.

We observed the same outstanding response effort that we had been witnessing in the previous days.

There has been substantial progress made on the gross oil cleanup at the sites we visited.

We have witnessed media reports that show clean up crews utilizing High Temperature, High Pressure water washers (HOTSY) to clean oiled rocks and walls.

This morning we visited several clean up sites to observe progress and to collect a few oil samples.

There is still a large number of shoreline cleaners that include, volunteers, police, military, KCG, and local industry.

We observed the same outstanding response effort that we had been witnessing in the previous days.

There has been substantial progress made on the gross oil cleanup at the sites we visited.

We have witnessed media reports that show clean up crews utilizing High Temperature, High Pressure water washers (HOTSY) to clean oiled rocks and walls.

Bathtub RingBathtub Ring

Rock CleaningRock Cleaning

Shoreline CleanersShoreline Cleaners

Supplies and SupportSupplies and Support

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS(continued)

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS(continued)

We participated in a meeting attended by all of the international oil spill assessment teams.

Participants included our US team, a combine European Council/United Nations team, a team from Japan, Korea’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF), Korean Oceanographic Research and Development Institute (KORDI) and Korea Coast Guard.

The meeting was chaired by a member of the North West Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP).

The meeting agenda topics ranged from overall response evaluations to specific response strategies to potential environmental impacts.

We participated in a meeting attended by all of the international oil spill assessment teams.

Participants included our US team, a combine European Council/United Nations team, a team from Japan, Korea’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF), Korean Oceanographic Research and Development Institute (KORDI) and Korea Coast Guard.

The meeting was chaired by a member of the North West Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP).

The meeting agenda topics ranged from overall response evaluations to specific response strategies to potential environmental impacts.

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS(continued)

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS(continued)

Results of meeting: All assessment teams were in complete agreement that Korea Coast Guard

has done a tremendous job responding to the spill and efficiently managing responders.

We all agreed that the progress made to date far surpassed our expectations.

We all agreed that at this time the Korean Government/Korea Coast Guard has no specific equipment or response needs or gaps that require assistance.

Each team clearly had advice and guidance to offer. Much of this was verbally presented during the meeting. We all agreed to provide KCG with written response options documents. KCG and MOMAF have will share the recommendations amongst all of the international teams.

Results of meeting: All assessment teams were in complete agreement that Korea Coast Guard

has done a tremendous job responding to the spill and efficiently managing responders.

We all agreed that the progress made to date far surpassed our expectations.

We all agreed that at this time the Korean Government/Korea Coast Guard has no specific equipment or response needs or gaps that require assistance.

Each team clearly had advice and guidance to offer. Much of this was verbally presented during the meeting. We all agreed to provide KCG with written response options documents. KCG and MOMAF have will share the recommendations amongst all of the international teams.

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS(continued)

TODAY’S AGENDA & OBSERVATIONS(continued)

Following the meeting, a press briefing was held at KCG’s forward command post for the response.

Each Assessment team provided 2 members to present findings and answer questions. The team leader for the UN team made and opening statement detailing that the teams operated completely separately, but ultimately came to similar conclusions regarding KCG’s sound and effective response.

We then took turns answering questions from the media.

The US contribution to this media event was positive and well received. KCG thanked us for or statements.

Following the meeting, a press briefing was held at KCG’s forward command post for the response.

Each Assessment team provided 2 members to present findings and answer questions. The team leader for the UN team made and opening statement detailing that the teams operated completely separately, but ultimately came to similar conclusions regarding KCG’s sound and effective response.

We then took turns answering questions from the media.

The US contribution to this media event was positive and well received. KCG thanked us for or statements.

Future PlansFuture Plans

Tomorrow, 19DEC, we will be checking out of our hotel in Incheon, and moving to a hotel in Seoul. We will spend our remaining time here working at the US Embassy building with LCDR Kim.

We will be finalizing our report on 19DEC and 20DEC if need be.

We will also determine if KCG or any other government agency is in need of assistance from our team. At present time, KCG has expressed no further need for our services.

At present time, we have a departure date of 22DEC07. We will move this earlier or later as the situation dictates. The international oil spill specialists from Japan, the UN, and EU, are scheduled to depart between 21-23DEC.

Tomorrow, 19DEC, we will be checking out of our hotel in Incheon, and moving to a hotel in Seoul. We will spend our remaining time here working at the US Embassy building with LCDR Kim.

We will be finalizing our report on 19DEC and 20DEC if need be.

We will also determine if KCG or any other government agency is in need of assistance from our team. At present time, KCG has expressed no further need for our services.

At present time, we have a departure date of 22DEC07. We will move this earlier or later as the situation dictates. The international oil spill specialists from Japan, the UN, and EU, are scheduled to depart between 21-23DEC.