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MT Hebei Spirit

US Experts Aiding S. Korea in Oil Spill

4 days ago

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- A team of U.S. Coast Guard experts arrived in South Korea on
Thursday to help with the country's worst oil spill, as hundreds of vessels struggled in
bad weather to contain the disaster for a seventh day.

The three American Coast Guard officials have significant hands-on experience with
oil-spill management and will help draw up containment measures jointly with Korean
experts, the Korean Coast Guard said in a statement.

An expert from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also arrived
earlier Thursday on the same mission.

The largest oil spill in South Korean history on Dec. 7 released about 66,000 barrels 
into
the sea off the west coast, devastating hundreds of seafood farms and turning scenic
beaches black. The volume was more than twice as much as South Korea's worst previous
spill in 1995.

The National Emergency Management Agency said the spill has so far contaminated 104 miles
of coast in Taean County, about 95 miles southwest of Seoul.

The agency said 339 seafood farms have been hit and an additional 220 farms were expected
to be affected.

On Thursday, about 220 ships, including Coast Guard, navy and private fishing boats, and
14 helicopters battled strong winds and high waves to contain the slick, the Coast Guard
said. On shore, more than 21,000 troops, public officials, residents and volunteers 
helped
clean up.

"We're continuing the operation at night, mobilizing ships equipped with searchlights,"
said Lee Won-yol, a Korean Coast Guard official in Taean. "But the weather is not good.
Winds are strong and waves are high."

The accident occurred when a barge carrying a crane lost control and slammed into the
supertanker Hebei Spirit, causing it to gush oil.