- National Shipping Firm Countermeasures Meeting convened on October 18th (Wednesday) by Vice Minister Park Sung-Hoon of Oceans and Fisheries - 

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Cho Seung Hwan) held the National Shipping Firm Countermeasures Meeting on October 18th (Wednesday) at the Seoul headquarters of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss the safety of national shipping firms’ vessels and their crew and the stable transportation of import and export cargo in the wake of the Israel-Hamas crisis. The meeting, chaired by Vice Minister Park Sung-Hoon of Oceans and Fisheries, was attended by representatives of 10 major national shipping carriers, including HMM, Sinokor Merchant Marine, Korea Marine Transport, SM Korea Line, SK Shipping, KSS Line, and Pan Ocean, to review and discuss the impact of the Israel-Hamas crisis on the safety of national shipping vessels navigating in the vicinity of Israel and their crews, as well as the impact on the transportation of import and export cargo, and to draw up a list of countermeasures.

 The meeting concluded with the consensus that the impact of the current situation is somewhat limited in the short-term. However, suggestions encouraged preparations against possible disruptions in the future regarding the transportation of strategic goods as the international geopolitical situation continues to evolve.

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to strengthen inspections and monitoring of Korean vessels operating in waters nearby the Israel-Hamas conflict, including the signaling of warnings when our vessels approach the nearby coasts and identifying in advance the vessels scheduled to enter relevant ports. In addition, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to roll out the Emergency Inspection Team for Energy Transportation, in collaboration with shipping associations, to help secure alternative ports in the event of emergencies.