- It established and announced basic and implementation plan on the 1st Korean e-Navigation service -

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) established and announced on Thursday, April 29th, the '1st Basic Plan for Intelligent Maritime Traffic Information Service (2021-2025)' and '2021 implementation plan,' for the smooth provision and usage promotion of the service(hereinafter called as e-Navigation).

 MOF is implementing e-Navigation from January 30 this year. The service is to inform ship operators of sea routes, such as maritime traffic information, weather information, and the risk of collision or stranding, in real time, like car navigation. It is a digital-based next-generation maritime traffic management system newly introduced by the IMO(International Maritime Organization), to reduce maritime accidents caused by human error, which Korea introduced for the first time in the world.

 MOF established a national master plan containing 4 strategies, 8 promotional tasks, and 29 detailed tasks, to provide effective and stable e-Navigation, as well as to achieve policy objectives such as improving safety and welfare for seafarers.

Strategy 1. Upgrading e-Navigation services

 First, it will upgrade the essential services* tailored to the site, for the prevention of maritime accidents, such as collision and stranding prevention warnings, which are currently provided through the e- Navigation. It provides detailed customized information such as height of waves, weather changes, and depth of water for vulnerable ship types such as fishing and leisure boats, and develops identification, analysis, and verification technology on real-time maritime traffic density traffic volume and accident-prone sea areas, to specify provision services by waters, such as traffic separation scheme and specific Traffic Safety Areas.

* Provides real-time electronic charts, maritime accident prevention warning, maritime traffic density, weather information, etc.

 To this end, MOF invested 26.4 billion Korean won for 5 years from 2021 to conduct R&D on commercialized technology and service function improvement projects, and through feedback on the quality of service centered on the field, such as operating an expert committee and surveying user satisfaction customer satisfaction survey.

 Efforts to resolve the blind spot on marine safety will also be continued. It is planning to develop a small-sized e-Navigation service device for the navigational safety of small ships less than 3 tons, while continuing to improve the functions of a mobile app that can be used with a mobile phone (available from 20 to 30 km off the coast).

Strategy 2. Expanding of safety and convenience services for seafarers

 It also contains measures to improve the safety and convenience of seafarers by utilizing digital infrastructure such as LTE-M communication network. It plans to expand the maritime telemedicine service currently being promoted for warships and government ships to general ships, and provide maritime traffic broadcasting* services so that seafarers can use maritime traffic information more easily.

* Provides national maritime traffic conditions, major maritime safety incidents and accident news, and maritime safety campaigns

 In addition, by establishing a comprehensive crisis response support system using LTE-M communication network such as real-time transmission of location information of a vessel in an accident, and video communication linkage, it plans to establish a cooperation system on maritime accident, with its counterparts on disaster management, such as the Coast Guard, National Fire Agency, and local governments, to secure a golden hour for search and rescue.

Strategy 3. Strengthening the role of the national maritime safety platform

 The e-Navigation system will be upgraded so that it can serve as a platform for not only sharing various maritime safety information, but also promoting people's convenience and supporting the maritime industry.

 It builds an open platform that can analyze and utilize data derived from e-Navigation, provides maritime traffic big data to the private sector to support the creation of various businesses, and provides a standardized linkage system so that various organizations and citizens can utilize the LTE-M communication network, for maritime safety management and various purposes.

 In addition, it plans to continue to carry out tasks necessary for operation of a stable platform, such as management of major information and communication infrastructure in preparation for cyber terrorism, construction of an disaster recovery center to provide smooth service even in disaster, and enhancement of LTE-M communication network quality.

Strategy 4. Creating ecosystem on maritime digital industry and contributing to international cooperation

Based on the e-Navigation technology first developed and commercialized by Korea, efforts are also made to contribute to the world maritime digital field.

The power of maritime digital technology will emerge as a core in the competitiveness in the next generation marine and shipping industry.

Accordingly, MOF supports additional research and development (R&D) of the industry, so that core technologies such as pre-recognition and warning on maritime accident risks, next-generation maritime data communication and electronic charts, and digital equipment such as e-navigation devices can contribute to the maritime safety. Meanwhile, it plans to strengthen cooperation with IMO so that the technologies can be reflected in international standards.

 In addition, in order to promote the international competitiveness of maritime digital technology developed in Korea and support the advancement of by related companies to the global market, in cooperation with national shipping industries, routes between Korea and Europe are to be equipped with e-Navigation system. It is also planning to open and operate the Global Digital-Route Cluster to globally, jointly verify its effectiveness.

 On the other hand, the '2021 e-Navigation Implementation Plan', in the first year of the launched service, focuses on securing the reliability of the service and the stability of the operation system, which contains tasks for early settlement of the system and cooperation with related organizations, to make it an effective service for the prevention of maritime accidents.

“We will create a safe and convenient digital sea in accordance with the first basic plan for e-Navigation,” said, Moon Seong hyeok, the MOF Minister. “We will strive to make Korea-led maritime digital technology contribute to international standards and dominate the world market.”