The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Oct. 23 announced its hosting of the World Maritime Day Parallel Event from Oct. 26-27 in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization at BPEX (Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center) in Busan's Dong-gu District. (Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)
By Oh Jung Eun
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries on Oct. 23 announced its hosting of the World Maritime Day Parallel Event from Oct. 26-27 in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at BPEX (Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center) in Busan's Dong-gu District.
The day was designated in 1978 to mark the effectuation of a convention establishing the IMO, which oversees global regulations on vessel safety and marine environmental protection. Korea is the third Asian country to host the event, following Singapore in 2006 and Japan in 2015.
The Busan gala is also the country's largest international event in shipping and shipbuilding since the ministry relocated to the port city.
Some 400 representatives from 50 countries are expected to attend, ranging from the heads of international organizations including IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and minister-level officials from major maritime states to figures from industry, academia and research institutions. This year's theme is "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence," with four sessions to discuss implementation strategies.
Concurrently, the Korea Maritime Mobility & Safety Expo from Oct. 26-28 is running at the same venue. Launched in 2015, this event seeks to raise awareness of the importance of maritime safety and share technological trends within the sector.
Exhibition halls display autonomous navigation and unmanned mobility technologies, eco-friendly mobility and carbon neutrality, advanced maritime safety and artificial intelligence-based disaster response, and business activities.
At the nearby North Port Waterfront Park, the interactive programs offered include life jacket decorating and a mini-runway, virtual reality experiences in sea safety, and training in CPR and the use of lifesaving equipment.
cloveroh@korea.kr
