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KOMSA Received a Presidential Citation in the Family-Friendly Excellent Corporations and Institutions’ Award
  • WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
  • Hits21
  • Date2025-12-04 16:47:08
  • Content KOMSA Received a Presidential Citation in the Family-Friendly Excellent Corporations and Institutions’ Award - KOMSA is the sole government institution that received a “presidential citation”: An achievement the institution has earned in 12 years after it was first selected as a family-friendly certified institution. - The institution aims to make safe sea routes by “securing organizational competitiveness” through the introduction of policies such as a four-day work week and a six-hour workday during pregnancy. The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) received a presidential citation in the “2025 Family-Friendly Excellent Corporations and Institutions’ Award*” organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. * This policy is for disseminating the best cases of organizations which lead a family-friendly and gender-equal corporate culture. The government has selected and awarded companies and institutions among “family-friendly certified organizations” since 2011 every year. This year, 18 businesses and institutions received an award* across the country and only KOMSA won a presidential citation among government institutions. * Three points for the presidential citation, five points for the prime minister’s citation, and ten points for the Minister of Gender Equality and Family citation. KOMSA has earned the presidential citation in 12 years since it was first selected as a family-friendly certified institution in 2013. In particular, the institution is regarded as stepping up the level of the institution’s family friendliness further by reinforcing its policies encompassing the entire stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare over the past three years. An employee of KOMSA said, “It is difficult for us to strike a balance between work and family as there is a shift work system, night shift, frequent business trips, and also job rotation due to KOMSA’s characteristics as an institution carrying out the task regarding maritime transportation safety including ship inspection, management of passenger ship operation, and maritime accident prevention.” “Despite this, recently KOMSA significantly expanded family-friendly polices to help its diverse members bring out their full potential,” he added. First of all, KOMSA has introduced multiple policies, such as shorter work hours for employees who are expecting a child during pregnancy, an automatic parental leave application system, and parenting education programs depending on the developmental stage of children. From 2023, the institution allowed a 6-hour workday for its employees during an entire pregnancy without any disadvantages in terms of payment, and so far, all of those who were subject to this policy have used it. It is also implementing an “automatic parental leave application system”, under which parental leave is automatically applied when employees apply for maternity leave. In addition, KOMSA provides parenting education programs based on the developmental stage of children on a regular basis. Flexible work policies – four-day workweek, flextime, and work from home and remote work – which enable KOMSA workers to set their own work schedules depending on their living and child caring conditions, are also considered a family-friendly corporate culture. KOMSA introduced a four-day workweek once a month for every employee last year, which is a policy to allow workers to take days off in a row by helping them concentrate more on their work. The institution also has work centers in eight branch offices* in Sejong, Incheon, Mokpo, Busan, and other regions. They are bases that allow the employees to work remotely even on a business trip or when they are relocated. * KOMSA is currently running 18 local branch offices and 12 operation management centers around major ports and small harbors across the country along with its headquarters located in Sejong-si. These flexible work policies and work center infrastructure reduce cases where one of the family members has to move their living environment or experience a career break due to relocation. They also serve as a means to prevent the burden of childcare from being placed disproportionately on a certain member of the family in double-income households. KOMSA’s system to support the workers’ return before and after parental leave is also regarded as the achievement it made thanks to its family-friendly corporate culture. The institution also makes efforts to minimize the career break of its employees by providing a newsletter for those on parental leave, education for those who have returned to work after taking parental leave, and one-to-one mentoring for their adaptation. In addition, through its self-developed “KOMSA Family-Friendly Index”, the institution examines the rate of use of family-friendly polices every half of year and enhances these polices based on feedback from the employees. KOMSA also runs multiple family engagement programs. Events such as “KOMSA Haenuri Day” and “KOMSA Kids Maritime Safety Art Contest” enable the children of the employees to experience their parents’ workplaces and learn the value of a maritime safety culture in a natural way. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, “Based on the notion that sustainable growth and better maritime safety services begin with the happiness of the employees, we have expanded family-friendly policies.” “Down the road, we will win best talent, secure the institution’s competitiveness, and make safe sea routes which the public can trust by enhancing the existing family-friendly policies”, he added. In the “2025 Family-Friendly Excellent Corporations and Institutions Award Ceremony” held in the Korea Press Center on November 11, KOMSA employees receive a presidential citation on behalf of the institution (left) and they take a commemorative photo with the Minister of Gender Equality and Family (middle). KOMSA employees and their family members take part in family engagement programs. KOMSA Kids Maritime Safety Art Contest (left) and KOMSA Haenuri Day (right) A group photo of KOMSA employees and their family members who take part in family engagement programs. KOMSA Kids Maritime Safety Art Contest (left) and KOMSA Haenuri Day (right) A Work Center located in the KOMSA Smart Ship Safety Support Center for the Incheon region
Ahead of the Winter Season, Complete Inspections of Ferries Are Finished: Sea Routes Will Also Be Safe This Winter
  • WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
  • Hits13
  • Date2025-12-04 16:34:06
  • ContentAhead of the Winter Season, Complete Inspections of Ferries Are Finished: Sea Routes Will Also Be Safe This Winter - For about two weeks, 142 coastal passenger ships went through joint inspections. All non-compliance issues were expected to be addressed by November. - The inspections mainly focused on vulnerable factors in winter, such as fire prevention. KOMSA always does its utmost to manage safety centered around the needs on the ground and improve the quality of services. On November 18, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution, ahead of winter, carried out complete inspections of 142 coastal passenger ships together with relevant agencies from November 3 to 14. KOMSA, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, local governments, public safety inspectors, and the Korean Register participated in the inspections. A joint inspection team, including KOMSA, in particular, focused on electric heating and heating facilities, fire extinguishing and emergency equipment, and whether fire detectors work properly while concentrating on fire prevention in winter. They also examined the management of electric vehicle shipment and the capacity to respond to electric vehicle fire on coastal passenger ships. The team found 238 non-compliance issues in the inspections, and the issues that could be resolved immediately were addressed on the spot. Those which require more time were expected to be addressed by November. In the meantime, KOMSA offers multiple services for the safe operation of coastal passenger ships and user convenience. “Tomorrow’s operation forecast”, which informs whether coastal ferries operate a day before their departure schedule, is available on the institution’s official website and the Naver Band of each regional operation management center. “Naver Map”, which is linked to Passenger Ship Transportation Information Service (PATIS), provides integrated routes that bundle land transportation and passenger ship routes together into one. Information on the routes of ferries heading towards islands and their real-time locations is also available. In addition, through the Maritime Transportation Safety Information System (MTIS) app and “Haesuhobot”, a KakaoTalk channel to deal with civil complains, users can check ferry operation information, safety information, and the current status of the installation of convenience facilities for transportation vulnerable. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, ”To secure the safety of coastal passenger ships in the upcoming winter, thorough preemptive inspections couldn’t be more important.” “KOMSA will spare no effort to enhance field-centered safety management and the quality of services so that passengers can use coastal ferries in this winter, too, with no worries about safety,” he added. KOMSA and relevant government agencies jointly conduct a special inspection of coastal passenger ships in preparation for the winter season, during which they examine fire extinguishing facilities. KOMSA and relevant government agencies jointly conduct a special inspection of coastal passenger ships in preparation for the winter season, during which they examine passenger facilities. KOMSA and relevant government agencies jointly conduct a special inspection of coastal passenger ships in preparation for the winter season, during which they examine engine facilities.
KOMSA Supports Climate-Vulnerable Countries to Enhance Capacity for Cutting GHG in the Shipping Sector: Complete the GHG SMART Programme
  • WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
  • Hits13
  • Date2025-11-21 18:50:03
  • Content KOMSA Supports Climate-Vulnerable Countries to Enhance Capacity for Cutting GHG in the Shipping Sector: Complete the GHG SMART Programme - Over the past five days, the GHG SMART Programme was held in Busan, attracting 22 participants from 13 small island states. - The event became the venue for international cooperation, ranging from decarbonization theory education to field visits to domestic eco-friendly ship technology sites and ports. This year marks the fourth GHG SMART Programme, which was organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, Minister Jae-Soo Chun) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and supported by the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA). So far, 80 participants from 48 countries in total have completed this course. The GHG SMART Programme is a project which is carried out according to the partnership reached between MOF and IMO in 2020. It was introduced to help countries vulnerable to the climate crisis establish their GHG reduction strategies and reinforce their capacity to respond to regulations. In particular, it is regarded as a case of inclusive and sustainable international cooperation as it creates a gender-equal participating environment. This time, in the education program, participants discussed the latest trend of IMO’s GHG reduction regulations; the National Action Plan (NAP) of the Republic of Korea; and decarbonization policy in the global shipping sector. There were also seminars, where experts from the Green Climate Fund and the World Bank participated. The participants also had an opportunity to have a better understanding of actual work by visiting environmentally friendly ship and port technology sites in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do regions, such as Sinseondae Terminal (Busan Port Authority), Korea Maritime & Ocean University, and Samsung Heavy Industries. Although global shipping accounts for about 3% of carbon emissions around the world, each country’s response capacity significantly differs. Small islands states are the most vulnerable to the climate crisis as they are affected by rising sea levels the most because of their geological conditions. An employee of KOMSA said, “Even though IMO is actively discussing GHG reduction regulations on global shipping, climate vulnerable countries like small island states have to bear the double burden of transition into decarbonization.” “This education program has become a venue of cooperation, where every country seeks solutions to this issue,” he added. Currently, those who have completed the programme are serving as the representatives of their country’s governments, connecting the network of cooperation for decarbonization in global shipping. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, “Those who have completed the GHG-SMART Programme are playing an important role in maritime policies of each country, serving as a bridge for cooperation between countries.” “KOMSA will do our utmost to support the growth of international talent like them and make this place of international cooperation for decarbonization in global shipping,” he added. Participants take the theory course of the NAP of the 2025 GHG-SMART Programme Participants visit Sinseondae Terminal of Busan Port as a part of the 2025 GHG-SMART Programme A commemorative group photo at the opening ceremony of the 2025 GHG-SMART Programme
KOMSA Joins Hands with KSA in Safety and Health to Make Sea Routes without Industrial Disasters
  • WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
  • Hits9
  • Date2025-11-21 18:45:09
  • ContentKOMSA Joins Hands with KSA in Safety and Health to Make Sea Routes without Industrial Disasters - The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA) reached a business agreement to reinforce the safety and health system of coastal ferry operators. - KOMSA will cooperate in five areas such as the sharing of the safety information of coastal shipping and the advancement of safety and health management systems. - The institution began providing safety and health consulting to small-sized shipping companies this year; “preemptive response” to stricter legal standards. On November 11, the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, President Jun-Seok Kim) announced that the institution reached a Memorandum of Understanding on the Reinforcement of the Safety and Health Management Systems of Coastal Ferry Operators with the Korea Shipping Association (KSA, Chairman Chae-Ik Lee). The two organizations signed this agreement to respond to tougher legal standards in advance and establish a practical support system for preventing industrial disasters. * Recently, with the expanded application of “Serious Accidents Punishment Act” to companies with more than five full-time employees (in January 2024) and the implementation of the “Standards for Safety and Health and Prevention of Accidents on Ship”, the level of legal demand was strengthened across the coastal shipping industry. KOMSA and KSA will cooperate in five areas such as sharing and utilizing of information on coastal shipping safety and the analysis of the information; enhancing the safety and health system of coastal shipping; improving relevant laws and regulations, and systems regarding maritime safety; promoting maritime safety culture; and sharing transportation materials in regards to the operation of passenger ships depending on the characteristics and size of coastal passenger ship operating companies. KOMSA, based on its expertise built while it has been carrying out the task of managing the safe operation of coastal ferries for the past ten years, plans to help strengthen the safety and health management capabilities of shipping companies and make a sustainable safety and health management system take root. From this year, the institution, together with the government, has offered business consulting services on safety and health for small-sized coastal ferry companies. So far, the organization has provided consulting on twelve passenger ships of four companies to help them identify risk factors on the ground twice and also suggested ways to mitigate these factors. In addition, KOMSA made noticeable achievements, including the production of standard manuals and introduction of risk assessment procedures. Jun-Seok Kim, President of KOMSA noted, “It is one of the core duties of KOMSA to provide support for coastal ferry companies.” “We will continue to make the safest sea routes without industrial disasters by combining our expertise with KSA’s on-site networks,” he added. In June, an operation manager of the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, right) offers consulting on safety and health for coastal ferry companies. In June, an operation manager of the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, middle) collects feedback and reviews related documents for consulting on safety and health for coastal ferry companies. In June, an operation manager of the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority (KOMSA, left) offers consulting on safety and health for coastal ferry companies.
KOMSA Took the Successful First Step towards Carrying out Education and Capability Qualification Evaluation for Green HDPE Ship Welders
  • WriterMaritime Transportation Policy Office
  • Hits15
  • 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
  • Hits42
  • 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
  • Hits45
  • 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
  • Hits42
  • 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)