27 Violations, Including Illegal Discharge of Wash Water, Detected at Ports Under Ulsan Coast Guard Jurisdiction

【Financial News Ulsan=Choi Soo-sang】 The Ulsan Coast Guard Station, headed by Chief Joo Yong-hyun, detected 27 violations, including vessels that damaged the environment by illegally discharging wash water from hazardous and noxious substance cargo, at ports under its jurisdiction, including the Port of Ulsan.
According to the Ulsan Coast Guard on the 2nd, two chemical carriers ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 tons were found not to have discharged 65 tons of water used to wash their cargo tanks at designated locations. After unloading the hazardous and noxious substances they had carried, the vessels were required to clean their cargo tanks before loading other cargo.
Under the Marine Environment Management Act, wash water must be discharged through an outlet below the waterline while the vessel is sailing at a speed of at least 7 knots, in a location at least 12 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline and where the water is at least 25 meters deep.
The Ulsan Coast Guard also detected violations involving the lawful treatment of ship-generated pollutants, such as bilge water and waste, as required under the Marine Environment Management Act; the recording and management of various legally mandated logbooks; and the operation of marine pollution prevention equipment.  
An Ulsan Coast Guard official said, "Chemical carriers often transport chemicals that are harmful to the environment, so they must comply with the relevant regulations even more strictly."
Meanwhile, the crackdown was conducted as a customized marine pollution-themed inspection over six weeks, from July 20 to August 28.

[email protected] Choi Soo-sang Reporter