S. Korea Expected To Lift Inspection Ratio To 30 Percent

South Korea is expected to lift its inspection ratio for targeted substandard ships to 30 percent by the end of the year, according to Joon-Soo Jon, a university professor and advisor to Korea's maritime ministry. The country raised its inspection ratio to 25 percent in the first half of 1999, from 16 percent last year, but is unlikely to achieve a 50 percent goal set for 2000, Joon-Soo said. "Our goal is to achieve 30 percent by the end of the year and we might hit 40 percent by the end of 2000," he said. Ships being targeted were likely to be registered under the Panama, China, Belize, Honduras, St. Vincent, Russia or Liberia flags, he said. Port inspections to detain ships with safety deficiencies were being stepped up to deal with a recent tripling in the number of marine oil spills, he said. In 1998 Korea recorded 621 oil spillages, up from 240 in 1991. Clean-up costs are averaging about $6.4 million a year, and compensation, mainly to fish farmers, another $3.2 million. Korea might be able to inspect about 60 percent of targeted vessels by 2002, Joon-Soo added. Korea is also introducing oil finger-printing methods to trace spills or dumped waste back to the ships they came from, he said.