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S Korean coast threatened by tanker oil spill

A tanker spilled more than 10,000 tonnes of crude oil into the Yellow Sea yesterday after being holed by a barge in what officials said was South Korea's worst oil spill.

"We are worried about an ecological disaster," said Kim Jong-sik, an official with the ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries. "This is the country's worst oil spill.

"We have set up a boom, trying to stop oil from spreading along the coast, but oil sometimes overflows it depending on the currents," Kim said.

The Hong Kong-registered tanker Hebei Spirit, carrying about 15,000 tonnes of oil, was berthed 8km off Mallipo, 90km southwest of Seoul, when it was pierced in three places.

The ministry said the spillage might be greater than the estimated 10,000 tonnes. It said operations had been hampered by strong winds and the danger of an explosion.

The leak is about a third of the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill of crude oil onto Alaskan shores, which was the costliest on record.

Three small tankers were sent to pump the remaining oil from the single-hull tanker.

"Oil is still spewing from three holes on the tanker's port side. A slick of spilt oil stretches five kilometers, threatening marine farms in the region," Kim said.

"If we fail to contain the spread, it is feared [it will] inflict serious damage to the coast," he said.

The barge, which had a crane onboard to build a bridge in the western port city of Incheon, was being towed by another vessel.

"Our initial investigation showed loose ropes linked to the towing vessel might have caused the accident," Kim said.

Yonhap news agency said the tow rope broke in strong winds and high waves.

The spill triggered an emergency operation by about 40 coastguard and other ships as well as four helicopters, said maritime ministry officials who have set up a crisis center.

The ministry said dozens of vessels in other regions had been asked to join the operation.

The tanker was anchored near waters designated as a national park before sailing into Daesan port to discharge its cargo. The west coast is one of Asia's largest wetland areas.

South Korean refiner Hyundai Oilbank said the oil on the tanker had been destined for its Daesan refinery. A company spokesman said the refiner did not have plans to buy additional crude due to the incident because it had sufficient stock.

Technical managers of the Hebei Spirit issued a statement later yesterday, confirming the collision with a local crane barge called Samsung No.1 owned by Samsung Heavy Industries.

The statement said no injuries were reported but the vessel's side shell on tanks No. 1, 3 and 5 portside was breached and crude oil had leaked out. It said the exact quantity is not known.
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