Expectations for Private Diplomacy Role of Container Ships Promoting Gwangyang Port Globally
Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (President Park Seong-hyun, hereinafter referred to as the Authority) announced that it held a welcoming ceremony for the new container ship of Janggeum Shipping, the "KWANGYANG VOYAGER," at 2 p.m. on the 29th at the Gwangyang West Container Terminal (GWCT).
At the event, Park Seong-hyun, President of the Authority, Song Sang-rak, Commissioner of the Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone Authority, Jang Han-chae, Chairman of the Gwangyang Port and Harbor Labor Union, and Lee Gyu-yong, Head of GWCT, attended to celebrate the naming of the newly built container ship using the city name representing Yeosu Gwangyang Port (Gwangyang).
The city of Gwangyang presented the shipping company with its local specialty, "plum extract," while the Port Authority gave the captain and chief engineer specially made commemorative plaques along with processed seaweed products, symbolizing their contribution to promoting seafood consumption.
At the end of the ceremony, a "Chwita Band Marching Performance" by a traditional Korean percussion ensemble was held to wish for the safe voyage and great success of the "KWANGYANG VOYAGER," making it a meaningful occasion filled with the attendees' hopes for the development of Gwangyang Port and Janggeum Shipping.
The naming of Janggeum Shipping's new container ship as "KWANGYANG VOYAGER" was reportedly made possible thanks to the cooperation of Chairman Jeong Tae-soon, who readily accepted President Park Seong-hyun's proposal during Janggeum Shipping President Geum Chang-won's invitation event to Gwangyang Port in April 2022.
President Park Seong-hyun stated, "The Authority will strive even harder to become a public institution that grows together with the local community," adding, "We expect the KWANGYANG VOYAGER to serve as a private diplomatic ambassador for Gwangyang City by calling at ports in China, Vietnam, and other countries, and furthermore, to significantly contribute to generating cargo volume at Gwangyang Port."
Meanwhile, the "KWANGYANG VOYAGER" was constructed at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, starting in January 2023 and delivered on January 26, 2024. The vessel measures 196 meters in length and 34 meters in width and can carry 2,500 twenty-foot container boxes. It is expected to greatly enhance logistics services within Asia for domestic export and import companies.
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr
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