Korean Government News

GustoMSC, through its parent company NOV, has secured contracts for the design and supply of critical equipment for Hanwha Ocean’s new wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), based on the GustoMSC NG-16000X design, with delivery scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.The vessel will be the fourth based on the NG-16000X platform, following an initial U.S.-built unit and two vessels for Cadeler currently under construction at Hanwha Ocean.Designed to support Korea’s offshore wind ambitions…

While the IMO has established interim guidelines to facilitate the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, international standards governing the safe treatment and discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated during vessel operations have yet to be developed.Unlike typical aqueous ammonia, this effluent exhibits different physical and chemical characteristics, and the lack of clearly applicable international standards has created uncertainty for ship design, operation, and environmental management.In response…

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured a contract for the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of a U.S. Navy auxiliary ship — marking the first since the Korean government’s “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)” proposal.HD Hyundai Heavy Industries won the scheduled overhaul project for the USNS Alan Shepard, a 41,000-ton dry cargo and ammunition ship assigned to the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.The USNS Alan Shepard, measuring 210 meters in length, 32 meters in beam, and 9.4 meters in depth…

The military and Coast Guard budgets are established that will benefit the U.S. ship building and repair sector, but what will stimulate the commercial yards?This author has been scratching his head of late, after a thrilling dive into July’s U.S. Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has asked several colleagues where the funding for support commercial shipbuilding can be found? To answer that, we need to look elsewhere and to future programs.Setting the SceneMany column inches have been dedicated to the decline U.S. shipbuilding, whether signaled by the relatively small presence of a U.S.

Three cabinet-level South Korean officials met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for trade talks, Seoul said on Wednesday, as top business leaders were also reported to be flying in to help lobby for a deal on U.S. tariffs.South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol joined Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo, who have been in Washington since last week, for two hours of talks with Lutnick, a ministry spokesperson said in Seoul.The finance ministry spokesperson did not offer details of the discussions. U.S.

Nakilat has launched the first financing package with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) for 25 conventional Korean-built LNG vessels that will be fully owned and operated by Nakilat.The partnership represents a pivotal step in Nakilat’s long-term strategy to expand its LNG carrier fleet and to support QatarEnergy’s LNG expansion project. The agreement underscores the strong economic ties between Qatar and the Korea, while enabling Nakilat to secure financing for the construction of new vessels at leading Korean shipyards.KEXIM’s participation…

Hanwha Ocean has added a comprehensive financing deal to its proposal to sell Poland submarines, the South Korean shipbuilder said on Friday, as it battles rival European bidders.Poland is seeking to buy three submarines under its "Orka" programme as part of an expansion of its military to counter what it says is a growing threat from Russia following Moscow's 2022 invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.Polish media have reported that offers from fellow-NATO and European Union members Germany…

KR (Korean Register) has launched a joint working group to establish international standards for the safe discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated from ammonia-fueled ships.The initiative brings together Korean major shipbuilders, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Hanwha Ocean, as well as the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), a national certification body.Ammonia is gaining global attention as a promising zero-carbon alternative fuel.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday (April 24) that its structure in disputed waters is a legitimate fishery breeding facility and compliant with both domestic and international law.The South Korean government had earlier expressed "deep concern" over China erecting a sea structure off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Thursday.“China is willing to work with South Korea to continue to strengthen dialogue and communication and properly handle relevant issues,” said Guo Jiakun, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson during a briefing in China.The structure in a disputed area of the Yellow Sea, known in South Korea as the West Sea, has raised alarm bells in Seoul over concerns China could be seeking to stake claims in the Provisional Maritime Zone,

South Korea will raise China's construction of sea structures off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula in a dialogue with Beijing on Wednesday, Seoul's Foreign Minister said.China has built structures in a disputed area of the Yellow Sea, known in Seoul as the West Sea, causing South Korea to set up a "reciprocal" platform, Seoul has previously said.Beijing has said its structures are fish-farming equipment, but they have raised alarm bells in Seoul over concerns China could be seeking to stake claims in the Provisional Maritime Zone, where the countries' exclusive economic zones overlap.For

South Korea's trade and industry minister Ahn Duk-geun said on Wednesday that potential cooperation with Washington in the shipbuilding sector is a "very important card" in negotiating with the U.S. over its tariffs.U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to South Korean interim leader Han Duck-soo late on Tuesday to discuss shipbuilding and potential energy deals in what Trump labelled a "great call", a day before a 25% tariff on its Asian ally was due to kick in."Since President Trump and the Trump administration are showing great interest in shipbuilding cooperation…

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) said on Tuesday it has stopped making blocks and equipment for 10 out of 15 Arctic LNG carriers contracted with Zvezda.Samsung has been delivering blocks and equipment for five of them to Zvezda, the Russian shipyard that is assembling the carriers, after receiving South Korean government approval.Samsung is nearing the end of making the blocks and equipment for the five ships, a Samsung spokesperson said on Tuesday.For the remaining 10 ships, Samsung has stopped making the blocks and equipment, but there has been no cancellation of the contract yet, the spokespe

The South Korean government on Monday called on striking workers at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) to end their month-long siege of a dock at the company's biggest shipyard, which has paralyzed production and is delaying delivery of new vessels.Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho called the occupation "outright illegal" and pledged a "stern response based on law and order."The shipyard near the city of Geoje, off the country's south coast, is one of the world's largest.

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries is joining the offshore wind industry through the development of an independent offshore wind floater model able to operate in extreme marine environments.The company said Monday it had received Approval in Principle (AiP) for its 9.5-MW large-scale offshore wind floater model, Tri-Star Float from the Norwegian classification society DNV."Removing a pontoon, a steel-frame structure supporting wind generator on the sea, its compact design will help dramatically shortening construction period from design and transportation to installation…

Iran released on Friday a South Korean ship and its captain detained since January after South Korea promised to try to secure the release of Iranian funds frozen in South Korean banks under U.S. sanctions, a South Korean official said.The Iranian foreign ministry said the chemical tanker, Hankuk Chemi, was released after an investigation into environmental pollution, and at the request of the South Korean government and its owner, state news agency IRNA reported.The seizure of the tanker in the Strait of Hormuz off Oman in January had triggered a diplomatic dispute after Iran demanded that South Korea release $7 billion in funds frozen in South Korean banks under U.S.

How will Biden read Iranian hostilities? Forceful diplomacy or reckless militancy?Anticipating the Biden Administration’s Iran strategy is crucial for understanding future risks for maritime operators in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and wider Indian Ocean.Though the new U.S. Administration and the Iranian regime have stated their willingness to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, they are unlikely to do so.

Iran says it will allow the crew of a Soouth Korean tanker it seized for alleged environmental pollution to leave the country, according to Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.“Following a request by the South Korean government... the crew of the Korean ship, which was detained on charges of causing environmental pollution in the Persian Gulf, have received the permission to leave the country in a humanitarian move by Iran,” Khatibzadeh told state media on Tuesday.The South Korean-flagged Hankuk Chemi was seized on January 4 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.Iran, which has been urging South Korea to release some $7 billion of Iranian funds frozen due to U.S.

Japan, South Korea and a fleet of international shipping groups have warned the European Union against its plan to add greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector to Europe’s carbon market.As the 27-country EU seeks to steer its economy towards “net zero” emissions by 2050, the executive European Commission wants to expand its carbon market to shipping.Currently, the policy requires power plants, factories and airlines running European flights to buy pollution permits to cover their emissions.The proposal…

A design for the world’s first large liquefied hydrogen carrier has been granted approval in principle (AIP) from the classification society Korean Register and flag state Liberian Registry.The 20,000 cubic meters class vessel was developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries Group and Hyundai Glovis in partnership with the Korean Register and the Liberian Registry, and HHI Group’s Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) announced they have received the AIP on Thursday.Alfonso Castillero…

The Korean government on Monday approved International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) Code (New G8) for Techcross ECS. The same approval has been already granted by Norwegian government in collaboration with DNV GL (Norwegian shipping register) last February to ECS-HYCHLOR, another BWMS newly developed by Techcross. With the issuance for ECS from the Korean government, all Techcross BWMSs employing direct and indirect electrolysis technologies have got IMO BWMS Code approval.Unlike the previous IMO G8 certification…

The global pandemic news has been horrific and certainly an historic moment in domestic and worldwide shipping. For many businesses, the action was simple; hang the “closed” sign, furlough or layoff staff and wait for the approval to re-open. Or not, depending how long the virus will linger and continue to cause hundreds or thousands of deaths and rising numbers of cases. Make no mistake, there will be many businesses associated with our industry that will not return. The damages will be far beyond bars and restaurant businesses.

THE Alliance, which includes Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming, announced updated details of its 2020 service network, focusing on the Asia-Middle East trade-lane.THE Alliance will introduce three newly organized express loops from early April and the Middle East Service Network (MESN) will provide higher frequency, direct and expanded coverage, and the fastest connection from the respective regions.Hyundai Merchant Marine has become a full member of THE Alliance in January. With the backing from the South Korean government, the company has ordered 12 Korean-built 23,000 TEU Megamax-24 vessels…

The Japanese government has filed a new petition with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against South Korea concerning alleged aid provided by the Korean government to the country’s shipbuilding industry.According to Yonhap, Japan has asked South Korea to discuss the issue which it says is affecting international competition, and if the talks fail, Japan will seek to establish a dispute settlement panel.In November 2018, Japan filed a complaint with the WTO, claiming that South Korea violated existing regulations by providing subsidies to its shipbuilders, resulting in damage to the Japanese industry.In December 2018, the two sides…