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Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Activate 24-Hour Emergency Response System Regarding the Situation in the Middle East

  • Date

    2026.03.11.

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    45

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Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Activate 24-Hour Emergency Response System Regarding the Situation in the Middle East
- Cooperating closely with the relevant organizations, while prioritizing the safety of Korean seafarers and vessels


  Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Seong-beom disclosed that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) is operating a close 24-hour emergency response system by upgrading the Emergency Preparation Team (Head: Director General) that had been in operation since Monday, March 1 to Emergency Countermeasures Team (Head: Vice Minister) beginning March 2 due to the recent worsening of the situation in the Middle East.

  MOF has reinforced its response system by closely coordinating with the relevant ministries since the incident on Saturday, February 28 and has held daily situation review meetings chaired by the Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

  At the situation review meeting held this morning (March 3) in particular, the safety of Korean vessels and seafarers was given top priority; ▲the current status of safety measures for our vessels in the Middle East, ▲maritime logistics trends and measures taken, and ▲matters related to seafarer support were inspected.

  As of 7:00 AM today, there are a total of 40 Korean vessels in the waters near Hormuz (including the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman). MOF is maintaining real-time communication with shipping companies and vessels and implementing measures including sharing information on nearby accidents, conducting real-time safety checks, and requesting compliance with safety rules.

  Meanwhile, 26 out of the 40 vessels are stationed in the Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf)*, and MOF plans to manage vessel and seafarer safety intensively, identify seafarer difficulties, and develop support measures if the situation in the Middle East is prolonged. As of Tuesday, March 3, MOF has confirmed that no damage to Korean vessels has been reported.

 * The waters west of the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula in Oman (56.5 degrees east longitude)

  “We will maintain our emergency response system with focus on ensuring the safety of Korean seafarers and vessels above all else. Please prepare for the situation thoroughly in case it becomes prolonged,” Vice Minister Kim urged.
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