National Planning Commission Holds Policy Meeting with Six Domestic Shipping Companies
Key Issues Raised: Increasing Share of Strategic Cargo Transport and Financial Support
Shipbuilding Support Measures for Entry into Arctic Routes Also Under Review
The shipping industry has submitted requests to the National Planning Commission, including the introduction of a strategic merchant fleet system and financial support. The Economic Division 2 of the National Planning Commission held a policy meeting with the shipping industry on the 10th. Present at the meeting were Yoon Junbyung, a planning commissioner from Economic Division 2, as well as representatives from the Korea Shipowners’ Association and six domestic shipping companies: Korea Marine Transport, Sinokor Merchant Marine, KSS Line, HMM, SK Shipping, and Pan Ocean.
During the meeting, participants discussed key issues facing the domestic shipping industry, including the realization of logistics security through the expansion of national-flag vessels, the acceleration of eco-friendly and digital transformation in the shipping sector, and the creation of new growth engines through the development of Arctic routes.
The participants emphasized that, amid intensifying global competition, the shipping industry is a core national economic security service. They called for the introduction of a system similar to the United States’ strategic merchant fleet and the expansion of shipping capacity through financial support in order to secure competitiveness.
They also proposed increasing the share of strategic cargo transported by domestic vessels, supporting eco-friendly and digital transformation, establishing standards for autonomous ships, fostering specialized maritime professionals, expanding the paid-in capital of the Korea Ocean Business Corporation, and making advance preparations for entry into Arctic routes.
Yoon Junbyung, the planning commissioner, stated, “We will ensure that financial support and other measures to secure international competitiveness in the shipping industry are properly implemented, and we will review detailed support measures, such as shipbuilding, needed by domestic shipping companies seeking to enter the Arctic routes.”
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