Taiwan forms marine chemical incident response team

台灣成立海洋化學品事故應變小組

Ocean Affairs Council says new unit will bolster rapid-response capacity at sea


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ocean Affairs Council established its first 60-member team for marine chemical emergencies, marking a key step in strengthening its disaster preparedness at sea.

At an inauguration ceremony in Kaohsiung on Tuesday, OAC Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said the new unit will boost the nation’s ability to contain hazardous incidents and protect ocean ecosystems, per a press release.

The effort was prompted by the 2023 Angel cargo ship accident off Kaohsiung, where over 1,000 containers fell into the sea, per CNA. Although no chemicals leaked, the event exposed serious gaps in Taiwan’s marine disaster response.

The OAC, which oversees the initiative, said the team is trained in advanced chemical detection and rapid response. Members include experts certified in hazardous and noxious substances response, with many having received overseas training.

Equipped with 24/7 deployment capability, the team will use cutting-edge tools like FTIR spectrometers to identify pollutants in solid, liquid, or gas form. The goal is to reduce response time and limit damage during future incidents.

Kuan noted that team members are seasoned frontline responders. “This is an indispensable part of Taiwan’s marine resilience and a major step forward for Taiwan to protect its waters,” she added.