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KOMSA Took the Successful First Step towards Carrying out Education and Capability Qualification Evaluation for Green HDPE Ship Welders

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits9
Date2025-11-14 10:42:03
ContentKOMSA Took the Successful First Step towards Carrying out Education and Capability Qualification Evaluation for Green HDPE Ship Welders - As there are no legal qualification standards for HDPE ships, unlike those made of steel and aluminum, HDPE ship welding requires a quality management system. - KOMSA conducted the first evaluation of qualification certification of HDPE ship welding at Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do. - This evaluation is meaningful in that it is the first phase of recognizing professional qualifications according to the certification standards approved by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; from next year, there will be regular evaluation tests twice a year. On November 3, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) revealed that the institution successfully completed the test operation of education courses and capability qualification evaluations for High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)* ship welders. * High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a 100% recyclable eco-friendly material that can replace Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP). According to KOMSA, only welders who are qualified by industrial standards or classification societies pursuant to the “Fishing Vessels Act” can participate in building steel and aluminum ships. And the institution examines the suitability of their qualifications. However, as there are no legal qualification standards for HDPE ships, there have been limitations to managing the qualifications of welders and the quality of shipbuilding. Industry has been pointing out that for the commercialization of HDPE ships, preparing qualification systems for welders or others is essential. Against this backdrop, for the past three days from October 29, in the Southwest Smart Ship Safety Support Center, KOMSA ran a pilot project involving ten welders from shipbuilding companies in Jeollanam-do for the first time in the country. The institution provided HDPE ship welding education and conducted capability qualification evaluations for these welders. KOMSA promoted this pilot project based on “Interim Standards for Polyethylene Ship Structure” that was approved by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on August 9, 2024, and this is regarded as the first phase of establishing a qualification certification system for HDPE ship welding specialists in the country. This education session attracted not only shipbuilding companies that applied to the session on their own but also a large number of shipyard businesses that were currently building prototype ships using HDPE materials with the help of the project on “Jeonnam regulation-free special zone for the manufacture of small, eco-friendly HDPE fishing boats.” KOMSA is participating in the project on “Jeonnam regulation-free special zone for the manufacture of small, eco-friendly HDPE fishing boats”, supervising the effort of developing HDPE ship standards and testing ship performance. The institution utilized HDPE welding and evaluation equipment in this pilot project. In addition, the authority provided education and practical training programs and carried out tests and evaluations according to the “Guidelines for the education and qualification evaluation of HDPE welders” that it had independently developed. Before providing education, KOMSA had thorough prior discussions with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The education program consisted of a theory course - how to weld HDPE materials and precautions- and practicing course using specialized equipment. After the education, written and skill tests evaluated the overall ability of welders. A “HDPE welding certificate” will be issued in the name of the President of KOMSA to those who have passed the tests by November. * The written test has 40 questions about the characteristics of plastic materials, the way to weld, quality management, health safety and others. ** The skill test includes tensile strength, bend, impact tests, and non-destructive inspection for the welds after the test piece is welded. KOMSA, based on this pilot project operation, plans to run regular education courses and qualification certification systems in full, from 2026. The institution will provide a regular test twice a year and expand education to other areas such as Incheon. The scene from the theory course of HDPE ship welding education held in the Southwest Smart Ship Safety Support Center in Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do, on October 29. The scene from the theory course of HDPE ship welding education held in the Southwest Smart Ship Safety Support Center in Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do, on October 29.

Green Finance Is the Key to Achieving Carbon Neutrality and Transitioning into Green Ships

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits12
Date2025-11-14 10:30:16
ContentGreen Finance Is the Key to Achieving Carbon Neutrality and Transitioning into Green Ships - KOMSA and Sh Suhyup Bank “joined hands” to promote green finance that can support eco-friendly ships. - Building ships with higher than grade 3 green ship certification can enjoy the benefits of “green financial products.” On October 31, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that KOMSA and Sh Suhyup Bank (President Hak-Gi Shin) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the “Promotion of Green Finance for Eco-friendly Ships.” With this MoU, the two institutions will cooperate in finance to provide support for companies in the ocean and fisheries, and shipping sectors. This move aims to help these companies transition into carbon neutrality and promote the further use of eco-friendly ships. In details, KOMSA and Sh Suhyup Bank plan to work in partnership in various areas such as expanding the development of and investments in “green financial products” to provide support for environmentally friendly ships; managing data on the greenhouse gas emissions of vessels (Scope 3*) and sharing relevant information; and finding joint projects for achieving net zero in the shipping sector. * Scope is a standard for the category of greenhouse gas emissions and it is a global standard suggested by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Scope 1 and 2 emissions are direct and indirect GHG emissions from sources owned or controlled by companies. Scope 3 emissions include GHG emissions that are outside the organization’s control, such as purchasing raw materials, logistics, disposed waste, and invested assets. The “green financial products” dealt in this MoU target companies that build ships granted with higher than grade 3 green ship certification according to the “Act on Promotion of Development and Distribution of Environment-Friendly Ships (Environment-Friendly Ship Act)”. This is in accordance with the “K-Taxonomy*” guidelines set out by the government to vitalize green finance. * The “K-Taxonomy” classifies an act of developing environmentally friendly ships with certification of at least grade 3 of green ships based on the “Environment-Friendly Ship Act” and transporting using these ships as green economic activities in the transportation sector, which contribute to establishing a carbon-neutral society and improving the environment. An employee of the institution said, “KOMSA is going to manage data on the greenhouse gas emissions of ships (Scope 3) and provide continuous support to make green finance translate into actual reductions by sharing this data with financial institutions.” KOMSA is the country’s sole certification institution of eco-friendly ships, and it is leading the green transition in the shipping sector by operating the certification systems of ships and equipment and consulting about securing emissions reduction credits and allowances. In particular, the institution has been promoting the development and management of green financial products regarding eco-friendly ships in collaboration with financial institutions dealing with ship finance to help businesses in the ocean and fisheries, and shipping sectors receive policy benefits when they operate environmentally friendly ships*. * In August 2024, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) signed an MoU on “Reinforcement of Supporting Services for Transition into Green Ships.” In September 2025, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) and the Korea Asset Management Corporation (KAMCO) reached an MoU on “Resolving Blind Spots in Ship Finance and Promoting Transition into Environmentally Friendly Ships.” Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA, stated, “Achieving carbon neutrality in the oceans and fisheries sector is possible only when finance, technology, and systems go together.” “Down the road, KOMSA, in line with the government’s policy direction of implementing carbon neutrality and enhancing eco-friendly national transport capacity, will bolster the virtuous cycle of boosting investments in environmentally friendly ships based on green finance and reducing carbon emissions,” he added. The concept design of green hybrid-propulsion ships The whole view of KOMSA headquarters, which is located in Areumseo-gil, Sejong-si

Digital and Eco-Friendly Technologies Are Also Spreading to Small and Medium-Sized Coastal Ships

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits31
Date2025-10-30 14:09:52
Content Digital and Eco-Friendly Technologies Are Also Spreading to Small and Medium-Sized Coastal Ships - On October 22, the “4th Small and Medium Safety Ship Forum” was held, attracting 140 experts in the maritime sector from various countries. - The forum, in conjunction with the “Capacity-Building Workshop for Small and Medium Ships”, laid a firm foundation for safety systems and technical cooperation regarding non-SOLAS vessels. - The event even provided programs to help developing countries build capacities in the maritime sector: Participants from multiple countries “look forward to applying their learned lessons to their countries” On October 23, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that at the ”4th Small and Medium Safety Ship Forum*” held on October 22, in Shilla Hotel, Seoul, participants shared overseas cases of combining the “so-called 2D (digitalization and decarbonization) technologies” for enhancing the safety of small and medium-sized coastal ships and promoting sustainability. * Six organizations that delivered presentations included Interferry, a global shipping association representing the ferry industry; the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA); the Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI); the University of Basque Country, Spain; the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO); and the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA). This forum was one of the official programs of the “2025 Korea Maritime Week*”, which was co-hosted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). It attracted 140 people both online and offline, including not only experts from home and abroad – Norway, Denmark, the Philippines, and Sweden – but also representatives of classification organizations and small and medium-sized shipyards. * The 2025 Korea Maritime Week is a global event co-hosted by IMO and MOF, where participants discussed response strategies about the major current issues and international cooperation. The first session, with the theme, “Digitalization: From Data-Driven Decisions to Smart Safety Measures”, presented the “SAFEMODE” system of a Filipino ferry company, that monitors accident risks real-time by using digital twin*-based safety simulations and AI learning systems. This session also showcased the AI-based Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) technology of Spain, which analyzes the real-time status of ship propulsion real-time. * Digital twin is about creating a virtual model of a physical object by simulating the object identically in computer systems. KOMSA made a presentation on the establishment of the Maritime Transportation Safety Information System (MTIS) and the current status of its operation as a domestic case. MTIS is a big data platform based on AI that predicts accident risks for each route by analyzing data on maritime accidents, ship operations, and weather, and provides services to enable the self-management of ships. At the second session, under the theme of “Decarbonization: From Policy Support to Practical Application on Domestic Vessels”, Norway presented the case of the world’s first commercialized electricity-propulsion passenger ship launched in 2015 and eco-friendly ship safety management systems while Denmark delivered a presentation on the verification test results of the safety of ships propelled by eco-friendly fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. This led to discussions on the need for preparing new safety standards according to the spread of ships propelled by eco-friendly fuels. KOMSA shared policy achievements and directions for promoting the spread of green ships in the country. “This forum suggested the direction of global cooperation for the spread of digital and eco-friendly technologies in the small and medium-sized ship sector, where technology gaps are huge,” said members from KOMSA. Ahead of the forum, on October 21, the institution hosted the “Capacity-building Workshop for Small and Medium Ships” for experts in oceans and fisheries policies from six Asian countries for the first time this year. This workshop allowed IMO member countries to lay the foundation for cooperation and discuss the current status of the safety management of non-SOLAS small and medium-sized ships, including passenger ships and fishing vessels, and the practical way to improve systems. Astri Wahyuningsih, Auditor and Director General of Sea Transportation from the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia, who participated both in the forum and workshop, said, “The structure of this event was impressive in that experts from multiple countries were able to share the cases of the safety systems of non-SOLAS ships.” “I want to apply the best practices of other countries to my country.” Surachet Dejkajornrittha, Chief of Ship Inspection Division of the Marine Department from the Ministry of Transport of Thailand, said, “Cooperation between regulatory authorities and industry is important in order to enhance the safety of small and medium-sized ships.” “I am going to disseminate the cases I learned at this event when I get back to my home country.” Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA stated, “KOMSA, as the implementing organization of the 2025 Korea Maritime Week, supports the success of the event and makes efforts for the advancement of global cooperation.” “We will continuously do our utmost to promote digital innovation and carbon neutrality for small and medium-sized ships and help developing countries build their capacities in the maritime sector,” he added. A scene from the “Small and Medium Safety Ship Forum” which was held in Shilla Hotel, Seoul, on October 22 Dong-Geun Lee, Executive Director of Maritime Transportation Division from KOMSA delivers his opening remarks at the “Small and Medium Safety Ship Forum”, which was held in Shilla Hotel, Seoul, on October 22 Key participants are taking part in a commemorative photo at the “Small and Medium Safety Ship Forum”, which was held in Shilla Hotel, Seoul, on October 22

It Has Become Mandatory to Wear Life Jackets on Fishing Vessels with Up to Two Fishers on October 19: Regular Inspections and Storage in Designated Spots Are Critical

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits35
Date2025-10-30 13:48:44
Content It Has Become Mandatory to Wear Life Jackets on Fishing Vessels with Up to Two Fishers on October 19: Regular Inspections and Storage in Designated Spots Are Critical - 88.7% of those who died or went missing in fishing vessel accidents over the last five years did not wear life jackets. - Regarding inflatable life jackets, regular inspections of possible damage are important, such as expiration dates on cartridges and tubes. - Life jackets must be kept in designated places where they can avoid direct sunlight and seawater, and passengers can easily take them out and wear them before departure. - KOMSA affirms that “life jackets are our lifeline at sea while doing their best to raise awareness about a sense of self-regulating safety” The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) emphasized that thoroughly managing life jackets on a daily basis and establishing a firm sense of self-regulating safety are important as it had become mandatory to wear life jackets on fishing vessels with fishers of two or less from October 19*. * In accordance with the implementation of the revised “Act on Safe Operations of Fishing Vessels and Promotion of Safety and Health of Fishers (the Act on Safe Fishing Operations of Fishing Vessels)” on October 19, 2025, it has become mandatory to regularly wear life jackets on fishing vessels with onboard fishers of two or less while it is also compulsory to wear life jackets in case fishers are on the deck when weather warning (preliminary weather warning) is issued according to the existing legal provision. According to KOMSA, it turned out that over the past five years (2020 – 2024), among 194 people who died or went missing in maritime accidents involving fishing vessels where it was confirmed whether fishers wore life jackets or not, 172 people or 88.7% of them did not wear this safety equipment. KOMSA, so far, has continuously been making huge efforts to foster a culture of wearing life jackets on a regular basis among fishers. For example, in 2022, the institution developed a new type of inflatable life belts with improved wearability in cooperation with private companies. This year, centered around 18 branch offices (including local offices) in the country, the institution inspects vessels in regard to how to manage and whether to provide life jackets and informs the compulsory life jacket use on vessels with fishers of two or less. In addition, it strengthens on-site education on how to put on and manage inflatable life jackets (vest and belt types) with enhanced wearability and convenience. KOMSA underscored that unlike solid life jackets, inflatable life jackets require regular inspections and special care in onboard storage as cartridges, inflators, and other major components are attached to them. For proper management of inflatable life jackets, KOMSA says that regular checks are crucial including inspecting the expiration date of cartridges; examining the possible damage in oral inflation tubes and inflatable bladders - the space that provides buoyance as it fills with carbon dioxide when being inflated; and keeping manual pull taps remain outside. On fishing vessels, while being kept in designated spots, this safety equipment is recommended to be in places where it is easy and quick to take it out; well-ventilated shadowy spots; and locations without any exposure to direct sunlight and seawater. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA said, “The most effective way to protect life at sea is wearing a life jacket.” “KOMSA will spare no effort to raise awareness about a sense of self-regulating safety among people in the fisheries industry so that the mandatory life jacket wearing rule on fishing vessels with fishers of two or less can be settled as early as possible in the field,” he added. At KOMSA’s Mokpo branch office, an employee of KOMSA shows how to put on an inflatable life belt to people in the fisheries industry (on the left), an OX quiz campaign on the implementation date of the mandatory life jacket wearing rule on small-sized fishing vessels with fishers of two or less, which the Gunsan branch office started to run in the last month independently (on the right) At KOMSA’s Pohang branch office, those from the branch office, Korea Coast Guard Station Pohang, and the fisheries industry together run a campaign on the mandatory life jacket wearing rule on small-sized fishing vessels with fishers of two or less on October 13 under the slogan of “Seat Belt on the Road and Life Jacket at Sea” (on the left), on September 30, Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA joins a campaign on the mandatory life jacket wearing rule on fishing vessels with fishers of two or less (on the right) The shapes of the inflator, cylinder, and cartridge, which are major components of inflatable life jackets. The inflator of these jackets is a core component that inflates the jacket by releasing carbon dioxide from the cylinder when those wearing the jacket fall into water.

KOMSA Commenced an Electronic Document Service for the “Certificate of Confirmation and Fact” of Required Documents for Vessel Insurance on September 29

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits17
Date2025-10-23 13:59:41
ContentKOMSA Commenced an Electronic Document Service for the “Certificate of Confirmation and Fact” of Required Documents for Vessel Insurance on September 29 - Each year, 8,000 certificates are issued: Now just receive an electronic certificate through “Haesuho bot” and submit it to the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives. - This service is expected to enhance policy efficiency, customer convenience, including shipowners, and work efficiency as well as prevent forgery and falsification while improving the protection of private information. On September 26, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution would begin providing a service of issuing an electronic “certificate of confirmation and fact”, which must be submitted when purchasing a vessel insurance policy, on September 29. A “certificate of confirmation and fact” is a civil affair document that contains engine specifications of fishing vessels and others, and about 8,000 of them are issued every year. Before the introduction of this service, shipowners had to receive the certificate in paper format from KOMSA and submit it to the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives in person. Now they can notify a person in charge at the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, by phone, of the “electronic certificate number” and “tracking number” of an electronic certificate” which they have received through KOMSA’s KakaoTalk-based AI chatbot, “Haesuho bot” or the main contact number of branch offices within the district. A person in charge at the Federation can confirm the authenticity of a “certificate of confirmation and fact” through KOMSA’s Electronic Certificate Information System (ECIS). KOMSA believes that the introduction of the electronic document service can help improve customer convenience, such as time saving and cost reduction, and enhance work efficiency. In addition, as the issuance and submission of documents are done electronically, it is expected to help reinforce security including preventing forgery and falsification and strengthening personal information protection. There are also expectations that this can contribute to carbon reduction by reducing the use of paper. However, at an early stage of the electronic document service, in consideration of elderly people in the fisheries industry, applying for the issuance of documents will also be available by visiting branch offices within the district in person. From the end of this year, KOMSA plans to provide a mobile one-stop service ranging from applying for the issuance of documents to paying a commission in connection with KakaoTalk-based AI chatbot, “Haesuho bot,” with which shipowners can apply for the issuance of a “certificate of confirmation and fact”, receive and submit it to National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives completely all at once online. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, “As a ‘certificate of confirmation and fact’ necessary for purchasing a fishing vessel policy is directly related to the property rights of people in the fisheries industry, the document is very important.” “Going forward, KOMSA will further enhance digital administrative services to improve people’s convenience including those in the fisheries industry and lead the effort to protect personal information,” he added. The promotional poster for the implementation of KOMSA’s electronic document service for a “certificate of confirmation and fact” A ship surveyor of KOMSA (at the top left) shows how to check a “certificate of confirmation and fact” by accessing the Electronic Certificate Information System (ECIS) to a person in charge of tasks related to fishing vessel insurance at the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives (at the bottom left)

Make Even Night-Time Fishing Activities and Slippery Decks Safer: KOMSA Distributes 17 Types of Fishing Vessel Safety and Health Signs in Multiple Languages

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits41
Date2025-10-23 10:55:02
ContentMake Even Night-Time Fishing Activities and Slippery Decks Safer: KOMSA Distributes 17 Types of Fishing Vessel Safety and Health Signs in Multiple Languages - The institution finished handing out fishing vessel safety and health signs to 1,600 ships, including fishing vessels in the high-risk sectors, and plans to distribute them to the entire 5,000 fishing vessels in the country by next month. - The signs are expected to prevent safety accidents for fishers caused by human errors as they are provided in three languages such as Indonesian. On September 25, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution began distributing “fishing vessel safety and health signs” to help both Korean and foreign fishers to identify risk factors during fishing activities. The institution, according to the revised “Act on Safe Fishing Operations of Fishing Vessels”, promoted this project to help the owners of fishing vessels fulfill their legal duties of attaching fishing vessel safety and health signs. KOMSA began handing out these signs in July as the institution was entrusted to the task regarding fishers’ safety and health by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and so far, it has finished distributing these signs to about 1,600 vessels. By next month, it will deliver the signs to the entire 5,095* fishing vessels across the country. * It is the number of vessels which actually engage in fishing activities (those that submit a notice of clearance) among registered fishing vessels with more than five fishers as of the present time. In particular, the institution completed giving out these signs to 473 fishing vessels in the high-risk sectors where the rate of accidents involving casualties surpassed 10% over the last five years, starting to reinforce safety from the sectors with a high rate of disasters. These signs have 17 different types that are stipulated in the Enforcement Rules of the “Act on Safe Fishing Operations of Fishing Vessels.” They are made to help intuitively figure out risks which often happen on the ground, such as restricted areas, no passage, no smoking, entrapment warning, bumping warning, fall warning, and slippery surface warning. They are easy to see even in the night as luminous materials are used, and durable even in the marine environment because they have strong stickiness and special coatings are applied. One member of KOMSA said, “We expect that fishing vessel safety and health signs can help block, in advance, risk factors such as bumping during night-time fishing activities and slippery decks by attaching them to places or equipment where fishers can easily recognize.” In particular, considering the fact that half of fishers in the country are foreign workers*, KOMSA provides these signs in Korean as well as Indonesian and Vietnamese. The institution aims to prevent safety accidents caused by language barriers and human errors on the ground by helping multinational fishers intuitively understand the signs. * The share of nationality among fishers of inshore fishing vessels as of 2024: Korea (48.4%), Indonesia (32.1%), and Vietnam (18.6%) KOMSA distributes fishing vessel safety and health signs focused on the needs in the field this time again. The institution sends these signs separately to shipowners depending on their own needs after examining the current status of equipment by vessel and the existence of foreign fishers onboard in person, instead of handing them out comprehensively. The institution confirms the current status via phone and delivers the signs to the owners’ houses or fisheries associations at the bases. One member of KOMSA said, “The institution aims to provide signs which can be used on the ground immediately through the check procedure using phone calls or text messages, and that if shipowners actively cooperate, it will significantly help to strengthen safety on the ground.” For fishing vessel safety and health signs, a guidebook about how to attach these signs is available in three languages such as Korean, Indonesian, and Vietnamese for downloads at KOMSA’s official website (komsa.or.kr) along with their designs. Fishing vessel owners or fishers’ associations can receive information on applying procedures if they contact KOMSA’s Safety Management Office (tel. 044-330-2468) when they need these signs. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, “As it has become mandatory to attach fishing vessel safety and health signs due to the revision in relevant laws, it is all the more important for all fishing vessels to do that on the right time.” “We want to ask all members of the fisheries industry to actively engage in the effort of securing the safety of fishers and preventing disasters by using these 17 types of fishing vessel safety and health signs,” he added. The cover and excerpts of a guidebook about how to attach “fishing vessel safety and health signs” produced by the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) The cover of a guidebook about how to attach “fishing vessel safety and health signs”, which is made in Vietnamese (on the left) and Indonesian (on the right) The types and shapes of fishing vessel safety and health signs produced in accordance with the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Safe Fishing Operations of Fishing Vessel (on the left), and an employee of KOMSA, who is in charge of the safety and health of fishers, attaches these signs to the hull of a ship (on the right)

Ranging from Ai-Based Ship Design Consulting to Metaverse Maritime Safety Education, In-Company Ventures Develop Services Which People Can Experience Benefits Firsthand

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits40
Date2025-09-25 16:04:22
ContentRanging from Ai-Based Ship Design Consulting to Metaverse Maritime Safety Education, In-Company Ventures Develop Services Which People Can Experience Benefits Firsthand - KOMSA selected two in-company ventures this year and will provide management and technical consultations and financial support for their commercialization. - Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA affirmed that with in-company ventures, KOMSA seeks to create new services in maritime transportation safety. On September 18, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution selected two in-company ventures and would provide full support for their commercialization. This year, KOMSA selected two in-house venture teams in total – Metaverse* Passenger Ship Safety Experiential Education and AI-based Ship Design Consulting – after judging four contestants in the competition. * The metaverse is an extended virtual space that allows people to engage in communication and activities using avatars by creating a digital world which is similar or totally different to the real world. It encompasses various technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), and also includes social and economic ecosystems beyond a simple game or simulation. One of the representative examples is “Roblox”, an online game platform. The first team plans to develop a passenger ship safety experiential education program using metaverse online platforms. This enables its users to naturally develop the capability of responding to crises in the real world while experiencing these crises such as fires on ships in the virtual world. Their project title is also “S.O.S.”, which is the abbreviation of “Safe Ocean Service.” The team was highly evaluated as in May it had developed two types of passenger ship safety experiential education content using Virtual Reality (VR) and a metaverse game platform (Roblox) and carried out their test operations. In particular, the “Great Adventure of Haesuho: Find the Passenger Ship’s Emergency Escape Route*”, experiential education content produced with the metaverse game platform, attracted more than 23,000 cumulative users over the recent five months. * (Direct link) the Great Adventure of Haesuho: Find the Passenger Ship’s Emergency Escape Route The second team will develop a service of providing feedback tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized ship design companies by calculating the Ship Design Quality Index (SDQL) with ship design plan approval data, which KOMSA possesses, and combining the calculation results with AI analysis. KOMSA expects that this service will reduce repetitive errors in ship design and the time for the approval of design plans. In addition, in the long term, the institution believes that this service can help enhance the quality of the services of small and medium-sized ship design companies and the competitiveness of the entire industry. The institution will provide support in terms of management and technical consultations and costs for commercialization so that these selected in-house ventures can promote their businesses in a stable manner. KOMSA also plans to offer startup and entrepreneurship education for those who lost in the contest to help them strengthen their capabilities and try the contest again. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA stated, “In-house ventures is the first step in materializing KOMSA employees’ creative ideas into feasible businesses.” “Down the road, we will continue to carry out our efforts of creating new services in maritime transportation safety from which the public can the benefit in their daily lives,” he added. An example of virtual reality passenger ship safety education content, that the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority provides at www.komsapass.com. It materialized the safety rules of “Marado No. 1”, a passenger ship – which is being operated on Jeju Island – in the virtual world. The promotional poster for the “Great Adventure of Haesuho: Find the Passenger Ship’s Emergency Escape Route”, KOMSA’s experiential passenger ship safety education content based on the metaverse game platform, “Roblox.” A ship surveyor of KOMSA reviews electronic design plans.

KOMSA Commenced the First Public Institution-Led Port Security Audit, Reinforcing its Public Role

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits78
Date2025-09-25 15:29:15
ContentKOMSA Commenced the First Public Institution-Led Port Security Audit, Reinforcing its Public Role - On September 16, KOMSA conducted the first on-site security audit for privately-run port facilities at the Shin Boryeong Power Generation Dock. - KOMSA intensifies security audits based on publicness and expertise, planning to expand the audit across the country by May 2027. On September 16, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution carried out a security audit for port facilities operated by private companies on the ground for the first time and entered the phase of implementing its efforts to strengthen the publicness in port security in earnest. On the 16th, KOMSA performed a security audit for port facilities at the Shin Boryeong Power Generation Dock located in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do*. This dock, which is operated by Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd., is used only for supplying fuel to the Shin Boryeong Power Generation Site Division. As of 2024, 43 ships visited this dock 105 times, and the port handled almost 4 million tons of coal needed for the operation of the power plant, which makes it one of the core facilities for the supply and demand of energy in the country. * Port facility security audits are conducted for all port facilities once every year. Port facilities must successively receive the audits once per year for four years in a row, which is called intermediate security audit. Renewed security audits are carried out in the five years after four years. Following the renewed security audit, which is performed every five years and requires more personnel, the first of the four rounds of intermediate security audits starts. The port security audit that KOMSA conducted at the Shin Boryeong Power Generation Dock on the 16th was the fourth round of intermediate audit. Starting from this first port facility security audit, KOMSA plans to manage a security audit cycle in a systemic manner. This is the first field audit performed by KOMSA after the task of auditing privately-operated port facilities was entrusted to the institution on July 4 in accordance with the “International Ship and Port Facility Security Act.” This holds a significant implication in that the public institution-led security audit system commenced in earnest on the ground as KOMSA had come to jointly take charge of this task, which had been performed by Korean Register. The security audit consisted of a comprehensive examination on the entire security system of port facilities. Through the audit, KOMSA meticulously examined core security elements such as the current status of the implementation of port facility security plans; the compliance of standards of security facilities and their operations; and entrance control systems. In the second half of this year, KOMSA will successively carry out security audits for twelve port facilities, which are under the supervision of four Regional Offices of Oceans and Fisheries including Daesan, Gunsan, Pyeongtaek, and Donghae offices and by 2026, expand the target of audit to about 120 facilities under the supervision of nine Regional Offices of Oceans and Fisheries across the country. From May 2027, the institution plans to conduct full-scale security audits for nearly 190 privately-operated port facilities in the country. In KOMSA, there are 21 port facility security auditors pursuant to relevant laws and currently the institution is training additional 12 auditors. The institution plans to gradually increase the number of auditors equipped with an understanding of the field and real experiences, who will take full charge of port security policies following that it secured one senior-level personnel dedicated to the task from the Ministry of Economy and Finance. In addition, KOMSA will be expected to lay the legal and institutional foundation for the enhancement of cybersecurity in ships and ports through close cooperation with the government and enthusiastically engage in education and promotion activities to inform the public of the importance of port security beyond simply performing the entrusted task. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, “With the commencement of the public institution-led security audit for privately-run port facilities, we expect that the publicness and expertise of security systems in privately-operated port facilities will be significantly reinforced.” “Going forward, KOMSA as part of the national security system, will preemptively respond to security threats in cooperation with relevant institutions and create a safe port environment,” he added. The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) conducts a security audit for port facilities for the first time at the Shin Boryeong Power Generation Dock located in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do (photograph: Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd.)

An AI-Designed Green HDPE Fishing Vessel Received an Enthusiastic Response at the First Onboard Experience Event for Fishermen

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits39
Date2025-09-10 10:30:37
ContentAn AI-Designed Green HDPE Fishing Vessel Received an Enthusiastic Response at the First Onboard Experience Event for Fishermen - On August 25 to 26, KOMSA successively held a “briefing session for an AI-based fishing vessel design platform” and an onboard experience event of the “KAIVE 3” for fishermen in Busan and Gyeongsang Province. - Participants showed an enthusiastic response to the vessel, regarding “safety and comfort”. Hopes are high that green fishing vessels to which AI technology is applied will be widely used. For the first time in Korea, fishing vessel technology that was designed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and materialized with an eco-friendly novel material was demonstrated before fishermen and others. The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that on August 25, the institution held a “briefing session for an AI-based fishing vessel design platform for users” in Yeongdo-gu, Busan and on the 26th, an onboard experience event of the “KAIVE 3”, which is Korea’s first High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) fishing vessel in Cheonseong Port, Gangseo-gu, Busan*. * These events were held as part of KOMSA’s commissioned research project on the “development and demonstration of an AI-based fishing vessel design data platform (2022 – 2026)”, and the institution supervised this national R&D project, where 13 domestic institutions from industry, academia, and research participated. With almost 30 participants from the fishing industry, shipbuilding businesses, and vessel design companies of Busan and Gyeongsang Province, at the briefing session, KOMSA introduced an AI-based fishing vessel design platform*, which had been on test operation since July, last year. This platform can automatically suggest up to 648 types of tailored vessel design plans based on 157 module data points such as hull forms (108 points), propulsion systems (12 points), superstructure (24 points), and fishing systems (12 points). * KOMSA, with the commissioned research project on the “development and demonstration of an AI-based fishing vessel design data platform (2022 – 2026)”, is developing various standardized fishing vessel models and a distribution platform (building a designated website) along with an AI-based fishing vessel design platform. The participants experienced customized fishing vessel design plans depending on their own preferred conditions, and the platform’s functions such as the function to predict the performance of each AI-based design model including speed, stability, and structure stability, and the 3D visualization function. On the 26th, there was an onboard experience event of the “KAIVE 3” for fishermen, which is Korea’s first HDPE fishing vessel (2.93 GRT). The “KAIVE 3” is a prototype produced as a result of the commissioned research project on AI-based fishing vessel design platform development. In the recent sea trial, the “KAIVE 3” proved its operation capabilities as it recorded the maximum speed of 32 knots. As HDPE materials are resistant to corrosions, strong, and 100 percent recyclable, it has strength in reducing costs regarding maintenance and enhancing durability compared to the existing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) material. One of the fishermen, who participated in the onboard experience event, said that as the vessel was light but stable and strong, it was likely to receive a positive response from fishermen on the ground. An employee of KOMSA said that although many participants highly praised the vessel’s comfort and stability, we had multiple challenges to address for its commercialization, as HDPE was a new material, there were a series of inquiries about the government’s support. Going forward, following Jeollanam-do, KOMSA plans to hold a “user briefing session for an AI-based fishing vessel design platform“ and an onboard experience event of the “KAIVE 3” consecutively by next year across the nation. From September, KOMSA started receiving registrations for briefing sessions and onboard experience events via the institution’s official website. Based on feedback on the ground, the institution plans to advance the platform’s functions and accelerate the spread of the design and construction systems of tailored fishing vessels. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA said, “KOMSA will contribute to the enhancement of fishing vessel safety and innovation of the fishing vessel industry through the spread of AI-based fishing vessel design and green ship technology.” The onboard experience event of the “KAIVE 3” – Korea’s first HDPE fishing vessel – was held in Cheonseong Port, Gangseo-gu, Busan on August 26. The “briefing session for an AI-based fishing vessel design platform” for participants from the fishing industry, shipbuilding businesses, and vessel design companies, which was held Yeongdo-gu, Busan on the 25th.

KOMSA Runs a Generative AI-Based Internal Podcast to Convey Management Messages and Policy Directions All at Once

WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
Hits44
Date2025-09-10 10:23:39
ContentKOMSA Runs a Generative AI-Based Internal Podcast to Convey Management Messages and Policy Directions All at Once - Followed by providing education to enhance the AI capabilities of employees, KOMSA delivers information on management and policies with an AI-generated podcast in an easy and immersive way. - The combination of generative AI technology and storytelling techniques enables KOMSA employees to listen to messages from management even on the move. - For the innovation of its corporate culture based on digital transformation, KOMSA first introduced a KOMSA-type AI communication model. On August 26, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution would begin to operate a generative AI-based podcast, “Wave of Innovation”, in earnest to strengthen communication among executives and staff members. This move aims to enhance accessibility and the level of immersion by delivering messages on management policies and policy directions through voice not documents. KOMSA has been distributing its podcast, “Wave of Innovation”, since July through the institution’s internal bulletin board in line with the government’s policy directions of expanding the use of AI in the public sector. Its podcast episodes are produced by converting written scripts into voice files containing emotions and intonation after automatically summarizing documents with the help of Google “NotebookLM” and processing them into conversation scripts. Before the introduction of the podcast, KOMSA provided “Generative AI Application Capability Building Education” to its employees from May to July and helped reinforce their task skills such as data analysis and task automation, laying the foundation for establishing an AI-based communication channel. Based on these developments, this year KOMSA plans to produce podcast episodes focused on three areas including management policies (mission, vision, and core values, and integrity culture); policy directions (ESG, future strategies of AI, and public-oriented services); and internal and external performance evaluation systems (understanding of the systems and best practices). In addition, going forward, the institution is expected to continuously discover new topics and improve production methods by statistically analyzing changes before and after the introduction of the podcast. A recent joint international study showed that audio-based learning tools such as podcasts helped increase the level of understanding of information by about 20%. KOMSA intends to run the podcast to improve its previous internal communication method centered around paper documents, convey complicated management messages with concision, and increase the level of understanding of policies among its employees, hence eventually leading to innovation in the institution’s corporate culture. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA stated, “Our podcast, Wave of Innovation, is a case of communication innovation which was born thanks to the digital transformation capabilities of KOMSA colleagues.” “Wave of Innovation will significantly help expand a consensus and innovate our corporate culture as this allows KOMSA colleagues to listen to management messages regardless of time and place,” he added. The poster for KOMSA’s podcast, “Wave of Innovation” (AI-generated image) KOMSA, since July, has been distributing its podcast, “Wave of Innovation”, through the institution’s internal bulletin board. In July, KOMSA employees attended “Generative AI Application Capability Development Education”, which was held at the institution’s headquarters located in Areum-dong, Sejong City.