2011-10-13 The Yunlin County Government and the Environmental Protection Bureau held the “2011 Mailiao Harbor Marine and Water Pollution Emergency Drill” at 14:30, Oct. 4. A well-planned emergency response mechanism was established to determine reporting procedures to the authorities concerned and how to respond in the event of marine and water pollution caused by an earthquake. The drill scenario was very realistic and the process was very successful.

　The drill scenario was set in a situation in which an earthquake measuring 8.1 in Richter scale at a depth of some 15 kilometers occurs approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Mailiao Industrial Harbor. Moreover, a magnitude of up to 7.2 is measured at the Yunlin Offshore Industrial Park. The quake caused waves 80 centimeters high to surge from the Taiwan Strait toward the Industrial Park. The tsunami caused oil tanker “Dongfang No. 1” to crash into East Pier No. 10 and South Pier No. 2 and cause a crack in the starboard cabin. Meanwhile, two staff members who are working on East Pier No. 10 are hit by falling repair tools, bleeding profusely. In addition, the rainwater outfalls between East Pier No. 10 and 9 are found polluted with gasoline. An investigation finds that the T-2821 gasoline storage tank is damaged by the earthquake and there is a leak around the flange of the feed pipe. The leak is sealed immediately by the staff members on site and eight kiloliters of spilled gasoline are collected, while some spilled gasoline enters the harbor through the rainwater drainage system before completing the seal. The staff members for the oil tank at the pier also immediately reported to the authority concerned in accordance with the water pollution emergency response procedure, through which necessary stoppages are set up and gasoline collecting is conducted at the rainwater drainage system and the rainwater outfalls. All the participants in the drill, despite the intense Northeast Monsoon, were immersed in their tasks, in order to successfully respond if an actual disaster occurs.

　The objective of this drill is to assess the members’ coordination capability and the emergency reporting function so as to facilitate immediate leak sealing and related protective measures when such an incident happens. It is hoped that the response ability for oil spill cases can be thereby improved.