The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) yesterday said it is using radar devices to monitor the oil spill from the shipwrecked Jui Hsing (瑞興號) cargo vessel that ran aground and broke in half near Keelung, adding that the ship’s owner will face a fine if it does not quickly present a cleanup plan.
The 11,500-tonne Jui Hsing set off from Keelung late on Sunday for China to collect gravel to transport back to Taiwan, but it ran aground near Keelung Harbor early on Monday morning because of high seas and strong winds. The vessel later broke in two and the crew was forced to abandon the ship.
The EPA said the vessel was carrying 312.5 tonnes of oil, of which 81 tonnes were diesel, 218 tonnes were creosote and 13.5 liters were lubricating oil.
Photo: CNA
The oil spill has spread to cover an area about 3km long and about 20m to 40m wide, it added.
Department of Water Quality Protection Deputy Director-General Andy Shen (沈一夫) said removing the oil spill would continue according to the EPA’s instructions, but the vessel’s owner could face a fine of up to NT$1.5 million (US$49,000) if it refuses to clean up the oil.
During a response meeting yesterday afternoon, the EPA asked the vessel’s owner to provide additional information on the spill cleanup and debris removal plan for future reference by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the EPA. Liability for pollution damage will also be investigated by the two agencies.
While the EPA has asked for assistance from the National Kaohsiung Marine University to monitor the pollution with radar devices, the Council of Agriculture’s Fishery Agency has also asked National Taiwan Ocean University to help with the sampling and analysis of sea water and sediment in the area to provide details on the damage to the ecology and fishing resources in the area.
The Fishery Agency said it would help local fishermen to seek compensation from the vessel’s owner if there is damage to the surrounding area.
Shen said the oil spill did not pose a safety risk to the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant, adding that the spill had not yet spread to waters near the power plant, which is located about 10km down the coast from the wreck.
“The movement of the spill might be determined by seasonal winds and coastal currents,” Shen said, adding that the EPA worked with state-utility Taiwan Power Co and the Atomic Energy Council to use oil containment booms as a precautionary measure.
The Guosheng plant draws some of its water from the ocean. The concern is that the oil spill could contaminate the water used by the plant and damage the plant’s cooling system itself.
Shen said the authorities have also prepared oil-absorbent sheets near Dawulun Port, Wanli Port and Waimushan Port — the areas under the biggest threat from the spill — and will make use of them once the oil closes in on the shoreline.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard Administration said rescue teams found two more bodies yesterday off the northern coast, bringing the death toll to six.
Coast guard teams have rescued 11 of the 21 crew members and have found six bodies, it said, adding it is continuing its search for the four crewmembers who are still missing.
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