Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Upgrades Emergency Response Team Amid Middle East Crisis... 24-Hour Maritime Safety Measures

Daily Situation Review Meetings Led by Vice Minister

Forty Korean Vessels Operating Near the Strait of Hormuz

Sungbum Kim, Deputy Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, is presiding over a video conference on the situation in the Middle East waters on the 3rd. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has elevated its emergency response unit to a vice-ministerial-level emergency response team and has entered a 24-hour emergency response system.

On March 3, the Ministry announced that it had upgraded the emergency preparedness unit, which had been in operation since March 1, to a vice-minister-led emergency response team. As a result, a 24-hour, closely coordinated response system overseen directly by Vice Minister Seongbeom Kim is now in operation.

Since the situation first developed on February 28, the Ministry has strengthened its cooperation system with relevant ministries, and Vice Minister Kim is holding daily situation review meetings to monitor the response status.

At the situation review meeting held this morning, the safety of Korean vessels and seafarers was set as the highest priority. The meeting focused on reviewing the current safety measures for Korean vessels in Middle Eastern waters, trends and response measures in shipping and logistics, and issues related to support for seafarers.

As of 7 a.m. on March 3, it was confirmed that 40 Korean vessels were operating in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, including the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The Ministry is maintaining real-time communication with shipping companies and vessels, sharing information on nearby incidents, conducting real-time safety checks, and emphasizing compliance with safety guidelines.

Of these, 26 vessels are located within the Persian Gulf, inside the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry plans to focus on managing the safety of these vessels and seafarers, identifying and addressing seafarers' difficulties, and preparing support measures in case the situation in the Middle East becomes prolonged. So far, no direct damage to Korean vessels has been reported.

Vice Minister Kim emphasized, "Above all, maintain the emergency response system with a focus on ensuring the safety of our seafarers and vessels," and added, "Please thoroughly prepare for all contingencies in anticipation of a prolonged situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.