Incheon City Consolidates Ship Repair Companies into One Location... Begins Feasibility Study on Site Selection

The scene of repairing a ship
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has begun a feasibility study to consolidate ship repair manufacturing companies scattered throughout the region.

The city announced on the 5th that it has started a service to review the feasibility of locating a ship repair and shipbuilding complex. The service period is nine months from the start date.

Currently, there are a total of 36 ship repair manufacturing companies in the area, scattered across Jung-gu, Dong-gu, and Seo-gu. Among them, the Bukhang ship repair and shipbuilding complex, where six companies are gathered, faces difficulties in repairing medium-sized or larger ships due to shallow water depth and aging facilities.

Additionally, a coastal promenade project is underway at Manseok and Hwasu docks, where ship repair yards are located, necessitating their relocation.

Therefore, through the service, the city plans to analyze the current operation status and repair capacity of the Bukhang ship repair and shipbuilding complex, and determine whether the existing site can be utilized by remodeling ship repair facilities and improving the surrounding environment.

Along with this, the city plans to investigate new sites within the region, comprehensively review the utilization of the ship repair industry and the surrounding environment of the target sites, and explore ways to secure acceptance through collecting opinions from local residents.

Furthermore, this service includes tasks related to the development of the ship repair industry as a high value-added repair industry through the concentration of ship repair businesses and plans for fostering it as a future growth industry.

The city intends to promote the project through close consultation with related agencies such as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to ensure that the outcomes obtained from the service are reflected in the 4th Basic Port Plan (revised).

An Incheon City official stated, "Once the ship repair business cluster is established, it is expected to revitalize the local economy, create jobs, and improve the coastal marine environment."