- MOF begins full-scale project to improve safety and convenience facilities in 29 national public service routes


The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced that it would implement a project to improve national public service routes so that passengers can use passenger ships more safely and comfortably.


The government selects a shipping company to operate national public service routes and provides operating cost support to compensate for low profits. A total of 29 routes are currently in operation nationwide. Until now, it has been difficult to invest actively in national public service routes' safety and convenience facilities due to low profitability. To overcome these problems, MOF has secured a new budget of KRW 440 million this year to improve passenger convenience for the project.


First, MOF will evaluate the 29 routes during the first half of the year, select excellent routes, and incentivize shipping companies to improve safety and service voluntarily. Moreover, to improve the convenience of passengers, it will conduct a demand survey in June, improve in-ship convenience facilities such as TVs, vending machines, and repaired restrooms, and prepare and distribute service manuals. It will also distribute safety accident prevention items such as safety helmets and shoes to sailors. In addition, MOF will develop and implement the ship management system for the systematic management of data related to ships (national passenger ships) operating on national subsidy routes.