OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Republic of Korea: Hebei Spirit Oil Spill
26 December 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the joint 
United Nations-European Commission Assessment Team and from their 
contacts with the national authorities of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

I. Situation

1. A collision between a barge and an oil tanker caused the release of 
10,500 tonnes of light crude oil into the Yellow Sea, off the west coast 
of the Republic of Korea (RoK), on 7 December 2007. More than 300 km of 
coastline was affected. The coast hosts a number of fish farms and an 
active wild fishery industry and is home to habitats for a variety of 
migratory birds. The region is also a popular tourist destination for 
the beaches.

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. Despite difficult weather conditions and heavy seas, 
authorities of the RoK, lead by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and 
Fisheries (MOMAF) and the Korean Coast Guard (KCG), acted swiftly in 
responding to the emergency.

III. International Response

3. The Government of the RoK accepted a joint offer of assistance of the 
United Nations Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit and the European 
Commission Monitoring and Information Centre. The UN/EC Assessment Team 
was deployed to ROK from 15-22 December 2007. The Assessment Team 
assessed needs for international assistance to aid with clean up 
operations, advised the Government on measures employed by various 
national response agencies and provided guidance on medium and long-term 
environmental impacts related to the oil spill.

4. The UN/EC Assessment Team determined that no immediate international 
assistance was required to aid clean up operations. The majority of 
beaches were cleaned as a result of the strong coordination and 
significant efforts of personnel from the KCG, MOMAF, Korean Maritime 
Police, Navy, Army, and volunteers from the private sector and general 
public. The effective deployment of oil booms immediately after the 
spill protected many sensitive areas. Natural surf, in the form of tides 
and wave action, cleansed some beaches and shorelines and will continue 
to do so.

5. The RoK response to the oil spill was consistent with international 
methods and standards. The use of dispersants, an accepted oil spill 
response method, was inline with usage in other jurisdictions and 
followed appropriate procedures, as defined in the National Contingency 
Plan and RoK Law.

6. The prospect for the rehabilitation of the affected area is positive 
given the efficient clean up and the immediate response of the 
authorities. Typical of oil spills, re-pollution remains a possibility, 
as oil trapped in crevasses, possibly unreachable during the clean up, 
may be re-floated and land on beaches. Efforts should also be made to 
collect tar in the form of balls, which is a residual effect of oil 
spills and dispersants, expected in some areas.

7. It is important to monitor the medium and long-term environmental 
impacts of the oil spill. The RoK is developing assessment methodology 
for biological and environmental impacts and it is essential for these 
efforts be collaborative and coordinated across the Government.

8. The Assessment Team recommendations also included: the development 
and implementation of a communications plan to inform the general public 
regarding the clean up process; An analysis of the development of a high 
seas clean up capacity; A review of the strategy on the use of 
dispersants; RoK join international efforts to phase out single-hull 
tankers; The implementation of a long-term clean up strategy, including 
a Spring shoreline assessment; Joint training between relevant agencies 
involved in oil spill clean up; Document costs associated to the clean 
up to provide information for future compensation.

9. The MOMAF requested international assistance to provide training, 
advice and assistance on shoreline assessment techniques.

10. The UNEP Post Conflict and Disaster Management Branch and the 
External Relations Directorate-General of the European Commission are 
collaborating on possible follow up activities, including a "Post 
Disaster Needs Assessment" in early 2008.

11. A mission report is under preparation and will be available on the 
Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit website 
(http://ochaonline.un.org/ochaunep ).

12. 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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