Safety Checks for Bridge Passages on the Han River
Official Service Scheduled for the First Half of the Year
15-Minute Intervals During Commuting Hours
The 'Hangang Bus,' a new maritime transportation means, has arrived at the Han River in Seoul for the first time. After trial operations, the Hangang Bus is scheduled to begin official service in the first half of this year.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Hangang Bus No. 101 and No. 102 departed from Sacheon City, Gyeongnam Province on the 24th, passed through the South Sea and the West Sea, and arrived at the Han River on the morning of the 27th.
Hangang Bus departed from Sacheon-si, Gyeongnam on the 24th for Seoul sidewalks. Photo by Seoul City
After the launch of vessels No. 101 and No. 102 in Sacheon last November, they underwent mooring sea trials, STW operations to check the normal operation of onboard equipment, and sea trials, ultimately passing the safety and performance inspection by the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority.
The Hangang Bus is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 52% compared to conventional diesel engine vessels. It uses a hybrid system with lithium-ion batteries and a diesel generator, prioritizing battery use during docking and undocking, switching to the generator for propulsion during cruising to recharge the depleted batteries, and supplying power for vessel propulsion and onboard electricity.
The two Hangang Buses that arrived in Seoul on this day will conduct trial operations reflecting real conditions on the Han River from early March until official service begins. Through this, they will inspect pier facilities, check the Hangang Bus routes and safety facilities, and conduct emergency drills. They will also enhance service quality by inspecting boarding and disembarking systems at piers, public transportation systems, and control systems.
In particular, focused navigation training will be conducted for operating personnel on safe passage under 17 bridges along the Hangang Bus route, adapting to changes in Han River currents, and docking and undocking at piers. Since May last year, the city has been conducting navigation simulations, theoretical education, and supervised navigation practice with Mokpo National Maritime University through a business agreement.
The 'Hangang Bus Trial Operation Public-Private Joint TF,' including private experts in ship and navigation fields, held its first meeting on the 14th. The TF will hold meetings at least once a month to review and discuss improvements for the overall trial operation. A 'Fair Inspection Meeting' is also held every two weeks to thoroughly promote pier construction, accessibility improvements, and safety facility installations.
Aerial view of Hangang Bus stops at Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Ttukseom, and Jamsil. Provided by Seoul City.
Currently, six of the seven piers, excluding Oksu, were completed in January. The Oksu pier will be completed by early next month. After the completion of upper building construction and interior work by tenant companies at the piers, auxiliary facility operations will begin from April at Yeouido and Jamsil piers.
The public transportation transfer system is being developed with a goal to be established in April. A system is also under development to allow real-time Hangang Bus operation information to be checked via 'KakaoMap' and 'Naver Map.'
The city plans to start official Hangang Bus operations within the first half of the year. Initially, it will operate at 15-minute intervals during commuting hours, increasing the frequency as additional vessels arrive at the Han River.
Park Jin-young, head of Seoul's Future Hangang Headquarters, stated, "As the first large-scale water public transportation means to begin operation, we will conduct effective trial operations sufficiently before official service so that citizens can use the Hangang Bus more safely and comfortably, and we will ensure the proper progress of related processes."
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