Maritime Traffic Control Zones Expanded by 84% in 10 Years... "Significant Role in Ship Safety and Rescue"

Since the maritime traffic control duties were transferred from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to the Korea Coast Guard in 2014, the control area has expanded by approximately 84% over the past 10 years, and the number of accidents within the control zone has no longer increased.

According to the Korea Coast Guard on the 23rd, the control area of the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), introduced to ensure ship safety and protect marine facilities, has increased from 19,366 km² in 2014 to 35,649 km² as of this year. This accounts for 41.5% of South Korea’s territorial waters area (86,000 km²).

During the same period, personnel and equipment have also been expanded. Currently, 603 controllers at 19 VTS locations nationwide operate 1,786 pieces of equipment such as radar, maintaining a 24-hour work system. Additionally, control support technologies utilizing big data and artificial intelligence (AI), along with integrated network technologies that share VTS data, have been developed and are scheduled to be applied sequentially within this year.

On the 23rd, Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, visited the Incheon Port VTS to check the status of operations on the 10th anniversary of the transfer of maritime traffic control duties.
[Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

The Korea Coast Guard explained that it has established a comprehensive marine disaster management system by taking charge of everything from maritime control to disaster response, and that policy efficiency has been enhanced through integrated VTS operations.

On the ground, VTS and patrol vessels have cooperated to crack down on 54 cases of drunk navigation over the past 10 years, preventing marine accidents in advance. In addition, in February, when a ship capsized in the Shinan waters, nearby vessels and cargo ships were requested to cooperate to rescue the crew, playing a significant role in ship safety and life-saving.

The Korea Coast Guard has established a VTS Education and Training Center equipped with a ship control simulator and advanced facilities at the Korea Coast Guard Academy (Yeosu, Jeollanam-do) to train controllers and strengthen their capabilities in accordance with international standards, and also provides training for civilians such as employees of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives.

Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, said, "We have been steadily working to secure ship traffic safety through the enactment of the Ship Traffic Control Act, expansion of control zones, and system advancement," adding, "We will continue to do our best to ensure that the public can safely use the sea."

Maritime Control Zone [Provided by the Korea Coast Guard]