Establishing a foundation for the overseas expansion of Korean professionals through Global Wind Organisation (GWO)-certified training

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Chun Jae-soo) and the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO; President Hong Key-yong) disclosed the acquisition of Korea’s first international accreditation for four Advanced Rescue Training (ART) courses for offshore wind power workers, who will begin the first training at KRISO.

Accredited by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO)* and applied in offshore wind power industry sites worldwide including Europe, the work safety training is a process of acquiring rescue techniques to respond to various emergencies inside wind turbine structures.
* Founded in 2012 and located in Copenhagen, Denmark, GWO develops standards for work safety and emergency response training at wind power sites. It has certified over 600 training centers in more than 50 countries, and approximately 190,000 people have completed the training.

The need for safety training in offshore operations is increasing given the rapid growth of the offshore wind power industry. This internationally accredited training program is expected to groom workers in offshore wind power and other marine plant service industries into professionals with accident prevention and crisis response capabilities, thereby facilitating their entry into overseas offshore wind power projects.

MOF provides a free basic safety training (BST) program that is essential to employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises and new entrants to the offshore wind power industry. Education is also provided free of charge. Having received international accreditation for the first four courses in 2023, the program now consists of five courses with the addition of the Ocean Survival Training course in July.
* BST (Basic Safety Training): A basic safety knowledge training course that wind power industry workers must have, including first aid, fire prevention, working at heights, and maritime survival

“We will continue to provide practical support that meets the needs of the industries such as establishing a foundation for Korean professionals to advance overseas based on an education/training system that meets international standards. In particular, we will do our best to solidify further the supply base of verified experts to ensure a qualitative leap in the maritime plant service industry including offshore wind power,” Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Chun Jae-soo said.