- Securing a month's supply of essential goods for 26 Korean ships through cooperation with shipping companies and vessels

Acting Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Sungbum an intensive inspection on Monday, March 9 in response to the situation in the Middle East, focusing on the supply of essential items such as food and fuel to Korean ships and the safety management of Korean seafarers.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) has been monitoring the remaining quantities of essential supplies on Korean ships in the Persian Gulf daily, encouraging shipping companies to maintain more than one month's supply since the incident occurred. MOF announced that one of the 26 Korean ships in the Persian Gulf received essential supplies from a local supplier on Saturday, March 7 and that, as of 10:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, all 26 Korean ships in the Persian Gulf had more than a month's worth of essential supplies.

It has been confirmed that essential goods can be supplied normally in the Middle East through agencies, etc. except for some ports, and MOF provides information on local agencies to shipping companies.

Additionally, MOF continuously verifies the crew list submitted by shipping companies against the actual crew on board for both Korean and foreign-flagged vessels carrying Korean seafarers. Such verification is conducted in cooperation with the Korea Shipowners' Association, Korea Ship Management Association, individual shipping companies, and vessels themselves for consistent monitoring of the number of crew per vessel, their actual presence on board, and crew changes.

During this process, the number of Korean seafarers on board Korean vessels was revised from the initial 144 to 146 after confirming an additional two. Meanwhile, the number of Korean seafarers on foreign-flagged vessels was confirmed to be 37, down from the initial 42. As of 10:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, the number of Korean seafarers in the Persian Gulf was identified as 183.

In addition, MOF, in consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and local diplomatic missions in the Middle East checks for changes in the relevant information such as airport operation and flight schedules and provides these to shipping companies daily to support the safe disembarkation of seafarers.

Currently, crew member embarkation and disembarkation in the Middle East are proceeding normally except at some ports. Three foreign seafarers were confirmed to have disembarked at Jebel Ali Port and Zirku Port in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, March 6 due to the approaching shift change deadline.

As of 10:00 PM on Sunday, March 8, no Korean seafarers have disembarked or requested to disembark from vessels in the Persian Gulf. The boarding status will continue to change as seafarers embark and disembark.

MOF is currently working with shipping companies to prepare food supply and crew disembarkation plans for each vessel in anticipation of a prolonged situation. MOF’s Director General of Maritime Logistics will review the plans with individual shipping companies, shipping associations, and ship management associations on Tuesday, March 10.

Additionally, a labor-management-government meeting chaired by Acting Minister Kim will be held on Wednesday, March 11 to review comprehensively the government's and shipping companies' response status and countermeasures and to hear about shipping companies' management difficulties. Furthermore, the Ministry plans to request cooperation among labor, management, and government to share information on the situation in the Middle East and to ensure the safety of seafarers.

“Establish thorough measures to ensure the safety of seafarers in preparation for a prolonged situation. Do not let your guard down until the situation is over, do your best to operate the emergency response system, and prepare in advance for areas where cooperation between the relevant organizations is required,” Acting Minister Kim urged.