Coast Guard Identifies Tanker After Oil Spill Near Busan Waterfront
The Korea Coast Guard says it identified a tanker that released about 87 liters of oil near Busan’s North Port waterfront and did not report the spill.
South Korea’s Coast Guard has identified a tanker suspected of releasing about 87 liters of oil into waters near a public waterfront park in Busan and failing to report the incident.
The Busan Coast Guard said Sunday that investigators traced the spill to the vessel after questioning crews in the area, reviewing ship movements and surveillance footage, and conducting scientific analysis of samples collected from the sea and the tanker. According to the agency, the chemical characteristics of the oil found on the water matched those of a sample taken from the vessel.
Investigators determined that the oil escaped from the tanker’s fuel-transfer hose. A person associated with the vessel acknowledged the release, the Coast Guard said. Authorities are continuing their investigation and said they intend to take strict action over the pollution incident.
The spill was first reported at 12:23 p.m. on Friday near the entrance to the waterway by North Port Waterfront Park in Busan’s Dong District. The Coast Guard and other agencies deployed eight vessels and more than 40 personnel for an emergency cleanup. They completed removal of the visible oil slick at about 6:30 p.m. the same day.
The suspected tanker was located roughly 24 hours after the incident. The case highlights how vessel tracking, closed-circuit video and laboratory comparison of oil samples can be combined to identify a pollution source even after a ship has left the immediate area.
The affected area drew additional public attention because a blacktip shark nicknamed “Bukang,” which had recently been seen near the park’s channel entrance, disappeared from view on the day of the spill. Some observers speculated that the shark may have moved away from the oil, but authorities did not establish a connection between the animal’s movements and the pollution.
The Coast Guard said its response combined rapid containment with field investigation and scientific testing. It pledged to complete a thorough inquiry, enforce the relevant rules and continue efforts to protect the marine environment. The investigation will also determine responsibility for the failure to notify authorities when the release occurred. No injuries or broader environmental damage were reported in the initial account.