OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Republic of Korea: Hebei Spirit Oil Spill
19 December 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the joint 
European Commission - United Nations rapid assessment team on site and 
from their contacts with the national authorities of the Republic of 
Korea (RoK). In addition, the report includes information received from 
the International Maritime Organization, JICA and the secretariat of the 
Ramsar Convention.

I. Situation

1. On 7 December 2007, a crane-carrying barge hit the Hong 
Kong-registered tanker "Hebei Spirit", which was anchored approximately 
eight kilometres off Malipo in the Taean district on the west coast of 
the RoK, after a wire linking the barge to a tugboat was cut. Three of 
five containers on the "Hebei Spirit" were punctured, releasing an 
estimated 10,500 metric tonnes of crude oil into the sea.  On 8 
December, waves of crude oil began washing ashore, affecting seabirds 
and threatening various fish farms. Three different types of crude oils 
were spilled: Iranian heavy oil, Hupper Zakun and Khafji Oil booms were 
put in place to protect sensitive areas for marine farming. The effect 
of booms could be limited due to the high tides and weather conditions. 
The oil spill is currently moving south due to tides and wind, 
therefore, the focus of the operation is on constraining its further 
spread south.

II. National Response

2. The Government of RoK declared a state of disaster on the first day 
of the incident and immediately launched an emergency operation. A 
central operations room was established in Seoul to provide information 
and serve as a clearinghouse for international and national liaison and 
coordination.

3. A major clean-up operation is underway with many parts of the 
coastline successfully cleaned, including rocky beach areas.  As of 14 
December, 9,225 metric tonnes of oily waste (sand, oil, rags to absorb 
oil) and a further 1,528 metric tonnes of oil/water mixture, containing 
an estimated 550 metric tonnes of oil, was collected. The Korean 
Maritime Pollution Response Corporation (KMPRC), the Korean Coastal 
Guard, local authorities and the military forces (approximately 7,000 
people) are involved in the recovery operation. Approximately 200,000 
people, mostly volunteers, have been involved in the clean up. In 
addition to the use of 327 vessels, 17 airplanes and 13 helicopters.

III. International Response

4. A joint European Commission-United Nations rapid environmental 
assessment team was on site since 15 December. The expert team assessed 
the area by boat and helicopter jointly with the Korean Coast Guard.

- No free floating oil at sea was observed. There were smaller patches 
of sheen that are too small for mechanical clean-up. The continued use 
of dispersant was also discouraged by the team. Site assessments of 
beach and rocky shores were also undertaken, where clean up operations 
with volunteers are underway.

- The team will provide further training and onsite assistance of 
shoreline environmental assessment for the Korean Ocean Research and 
Development Institute.

- Waste processing sites were also visited. There are 15 incineration 
facilities accepting solid waste. To date, a total of 1,173 tonnes of 
waste was accepted of which approximately 20% was incinerated.

- Onsite coordination meetings were held between the RoK authorities and 
agencies with the various international response teams.

- In general, the expert teams were impressed with the professionalism 
and efficiency of the clean-up operations and coordination of the RoK 
authorities.

- The EU/UN team is expected to present their findings in Seoul in the 
coming days and intends to depart on 22 December.

5. Under the framework of the NOWPAP (Northwest Pacific Action Plan) 
Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan, the Director of the Marine 
Environmental Emergency Preparedness and Response Regional Activity 
requested assistance, with the following results:

- China pledged 65 tonnes of chemical and biological agents and 
absorbents. One vessel with 20 tonnes arrived in the Daesan port on 14 
December. China also deployed an expert of the Shanghai Maritime Safety 
Administration.

- The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) dispatched a team 
of six experts of the Japanese Disaster Relief (JDR) Programme. The team 
arrived on 15 December and plans to stay until 23 December.  Emergency 
supplies, 40 tonnes of absorbent cloth, is expected to arrive on 19 
December.

- Russia pledged 50 tonnes of absorbent cloth.

- The United States Coast Guard/National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) sent a four-person team to examine the oil spill 
and assist the clean-up.

- On 18 December, the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands 
made an offer of assistance to the Minister of Environment to identify 
expert advice with the rehabilitation of wetlands habitats, if required.

- A private sector company from Singapore, EARL, provided six clean-up 
experts with a specialized decontamination aircraft and other equipment 
after signing a relevant agreement with the RoK.

- Coordination meetings were held between the authorities, UNDP, the 
joint EC-UN team, the Korean Coast Guard, the Japanese team and the US 
team.

- The International Maritime Organization offered assistance to MERRAC 
and is on stand-by. The IMO continues to monitor the situation and 
remains in close contact with the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit.

6. This situation report, together with further information regarding 
on-going emergencies, is also available on the Reliefweb: 
http://www.reliefweb.int.


For detailed information please contact:

Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (GVA)
Mr. Rene Nijenhuis
Tel. + 41-79-477-0872
Email: nijenhuis@un.org

MIC Contacts (BXL)
MIC Duty officer
Tel: +32-229-22-222
Email: env-mic@ec.europa.eu


UN Desk Officers:

(NYC) Ms. Kendra Clegg
Tel. +1 646 416 1140
Email: clegg@un.org

(GVA) Mr. Jean Verheyden
Tel: + 41 79 509 8116
Email: verheyden@un.org


Press contact:

(NYC) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. + 1 917 367 5126

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. + 41 22 917 2653


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