2013-11-11 In order to improve the emergency response ability to ocean pollution events in the Mailiao Harbor, on September 26th Yunlin County Government held the 2013 Mailiao Harbor ocean pollution emergency response drill in the waters near Mailiao Industrial Harbor East 10 South 2 dock. Participating departments included: the Ministry of Economic Affairs Industrial Development Bureau Mailiao Industrial Harbor Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs Yunlin Offshore Island Basic Industrial Zone Service Center, Executive Yuan Maritime Patrol Directorate General Coast Guard Administration 13th Ocean Patrol, Executive Yuan Maritime Patrol Directorate General Coast Guard Administration Central Region 42nd Coastal Patrol, Yunlin County Government (EPB, Police Bureau, Fire-Fighting Department, Public Health Bureau, Agriculture Department, Economic Affairs Department, Public Works Department), Yunlin County Mailiao Township Office Cleanup Team, Yunlin District Fishermen Association, Mailiao Industrial Harbor Administration Co., Ltd., Formosa Petrochemical Corporation, Formosa Plastics Group General Administration Safety, Hygiene, and Environmental Center, Formosa Plastics Marine Corporation, Formosa Plastics Corporation Mailiao Administration, Formosa Plastics Group General Administration Mailiao Administration Security Department, Asia Environmental Technical Corporation, and Kaofan Company.
　The drill scenario was: at 2pm on September 26th (Thursday), 2013, a 5,000 ton chemical vessel “East One” berthed at Mailiao Port East 10 South 2 dock, and was conducting methanol loading. East 10 dock 10th column was undergoing pipe replacement by contractors, and the contractor did not hold the assisted suspension rope sufficiently tightly. In the course of suspension, the pipes collided with the methanol valve on East 10 dock, resulting in leakage of the valve substance; the contractor escaped from the pipes. The officer working on East One realized that the pipes were leaking on the shore, and urgently shut off the high pressure relief valve, but due to the emergency closure of the valve on the vessel, methanol pipelines on the shore experienced excessive pressure, causing the flange leakage of the conveying arm on deck. At this point, the safety supervisor at the terminal used the radio to report to the director on duty at the terminal about on-site conditions and request assistance. As the vessel was using response equipment to deal with the leakage on the deck, since when the contractor personnel escaped, they did not stabilize the suspended pipelines, the pipelines fell and impacted the fuel pipes, causing sparks that ignited the leaked fluids on the deck, causing burn injuries to one employee. Furthermore, the impacted fuel pipelines burst and leaked. Preliminary estimates showed that approximately 2 tons of methanol and 20 tons of fuel spilled onto the shore and ocean, the scale of pollution gradually spread outside the harbor. When the harbor company received the report, it immediately dispatched firefighting vessels to put out the fire, and instructed emergency response personnel to prepare emergency response equipment for ocean pollution, and remain on standby. After Formosa Plastics Terminal Office received the report, it immediately opened the monitor tower and water curtain for separation. At the same time, Formosa Plastics Terminal Office followed the emergency reporting procedures for ocean pollution to report the emergency to relevant authorities. In addition, the harbor company dispatched a harbor patrol to assist in establishing an oil spill containment boom, and use skimmers and pillows to help handle the oil pollution on the ocean surface.
　There were three main focuses of this drill: the first was to simulate real conditions and establish a response center on-site, holding emergency response meetings, and the responsible departments followed their responsibilities by providing environmental information to the commander of the response center, fully utilizing the crucial time immediately after the emergency. The second was to effectively control nearby sensitive locations, and enhance protection and monitoring of sensitive regions, in order to protect the resources and ecology of the nearby environment and reduce environmental and ecological damage. The third was to integrate the handling and contacts for mutual support by related institutions, corporations and affiliated companies in response to emergencies of ocean pollution, and to use the various rescue resources, personnel and equipment to strengthen overall rescue ability, in order to reduce the negative effect on the human body, the ecology, the environment and property. It is hoped that realistic drills can help to familiarize different parties with emergency reporting procedures and increase familiarity with response equipment for ocean disasters, so that the actual occurrence of pollution events can be met with shortened response and handling times as well as improved response efficiency, in order to improve the ability to handle significant ocean pollution events.