Korea and Australia Join Hands to Strengthen International Maritime Cooperation

- MOF to discuss strengthening internal cooperation—including full-scale cooperation in building green shipping routes—at the 14th Korea-Australia Maritime Safety Policy Meeting

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced that it will hold the 14th Korea-Australia Maritime Safety Policy Meeting in Singapore on Thursday, February 20 (Chief Representative: Director General of Maritime Safety Bureau Choi Seong-yong).

 Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Maritime Safety Cooperation by MOF and Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) in September 2009, the two countries have alternately held maritime safety policy meetings yearly. This 14th Meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Korea; as both countries were attending the 1st General Assembly of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) held in Singapore, however, they agreed to hold it during the IALA General Assembly.

 The two countries plan to explore ways of cooperating on key issues such as ▲election of the board of directors for the 34th General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (end of November), ▲establishment of green shipping routes, ▲port state control, ▲maritime digital technology, and ▲navigation aid policy and technology sharing at the 14th Meeting.

 In particular, this Meeting will also discuss detailed implementation plans for the preliminary feasibility study on establishing green shipping routes* to implement follow-up measures according to the Korea-Australia MOU on the Establishment of Green Shipping Routes signed by the two countries on Monday, February 10.

 * Routes that do not emit carbon throughout the maritime transport between ports by utilizing carbon-free fuel and eco-friendly technology

 “This meeting will hopefully solidify further the friendly relationship with Australia—our long-time partner in the international maritime sector—and promote close cooperation on common issues such as the IMO board election and establishment of Korea-Australia green shipping routes,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said.