The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries launched the Shipping Line Transfer Council, in which the government, local governments, and corporations participate, to support the transfer of major carriers, including HMM, to Busan. It will provide subsidies such as for newbuilds with icebreaking performance to national carriers to expand the commercialization of the Arctic route.
The ministry said on the 16th that a new set of government state tasks for the maritime and fisheries sector containing these measures was finalized at a Cabinet meeting. The tasks are threefold: ▲ building a K-maritime powerhouse to lead the era of the Arctic route ▲ innovating the fisheries and maritime industries to revitalize fishing villages and the coastal economy ▲ establishing unwavering maritime sovereignty, safety, and a clean sea.
The ministry said, "This set of tasks was finalized after a comprehensive review of policy and fiscal conditions and feasibility, based on the Government Operations Five-Year Plan proposed by the Presidential Committee on Policy Planning on Aug. 13."
◇ Launching the HMM Busan transfer support council… Developing high value-added shipbuilding technologies
The ministry plans to complete the maritime capital area in preparation for the era of the Arctic route and expand the national sea transport capacity to stably support import-export logistics. It will complete the transfer to Busan by the end of this year and operate the Shipping Line Transfer Council to prepare incentives that reflect opinions from local governments and corporations. Through this, it will induce voluntary transfer by major domestic carriers such as HMM.
It will seek to host the 4th UN Ocean Conference in 2028 and develop cargo-specific hub ports for containers, LNG, and crude oil to foster port hinterlands as global logistics hubs. It will bolster national transport capacity with a focus on eco-friendly ships in response to tougher greenhouse gas regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It will also raise national carriers' usage rates for key energies such as LNG and crude oil to build a stable supply chain.
In addition, it will develop high value-added shipbuilding technologies such as Korean-style fully autonomous ships and icebreaking container ships, and pioneer a new U.S. market for ship and naval vessel MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) to back the leap of K-shipbuilding.
◇ Overhaul centered on total allowable catch… Support to scrap old fishing vessels and build replacements
It will also work to revitalize fishing villages and the coastal economy by raising residents' income and quality of life. By stabilizing the supply base for seafood, boosting marine tourism, fostering new marine industries, and supporting the rollout of offshore wind, it will inject vitality into regions depressed by population decline and industrial hollowing-out.
First, it will overhaul the management system for capture fisheries centered on total allowable catch (TAC) and support scrapping old vessels and building replacements. For aquaculture, it will support transfer from disaster-prone areas and switching of species, and expand disaster insurance coverage and scope. By expanding direct seafood transactions and the range of online transaction items, and by expanding Fishery Product Processing and Distribution Centers (FPC) at production sites and Fishery Distribution Centers (FDC) in consumption areas, it will build a nationwide cold-chain distribution network. It will strengthen housing, job, and financial support to help young fishers settle, and expand medical services for island residents.
In addition, it will expand tourism infrastructure such as complex marine leisure tourism cities and national marine ecological parks, and raise competitiveness by developing high-quality content. In line with the Offshore Wind Power Act taking effect in March next year, it will designate planned sites and introduce a profit-sharing model for fishers, and also push the rollout of offshore wind power that meets both environmental performance and public acceptance.
◇ Stronger maritime surveillance and enforcement… Designating 1,000 ㎢ of marine protected areas every year
It will also accelerate efforts to strengthen maritime sovereignty. By tightening surveillance and enforcement in jurisdictional waters, it will block illegal fishing by foreign vessels and establish seafood resource security. It will introduce and expand an operator qualification system for small vessels under 5 tons, and increase the number of fishing vessel safety supervisors from the current 10 to 31 to strengthen safety management. To counter GPS jamming, it will build a terrestrial navigation system and establish an AI-based maritime safety and disaster management system. Alongside this, it will designate at least one marine protected area of 1,000 ㎢ or more each year and expand facilities to handle marine litter and discarded fishing gear.
To ensure steady implementation of the state tasks, the ministry plans to swiftly secure budgets, take legislative action, and consult with relevant ministries. Minister Jeon Jae-soo of the ministry said, "We will faithfully carry out the maritime and fisheries state tasks that embody the philosophy and vision of the new government," adding, "Through opening the Arctic route, revitalizing fishing villages and coasts, and strengthening maritime sovereignty, we will prepare a new growth engine for the Republic of Korea."