Seonju Association and Seonwon Labor Union Deliver 200,000 Masks for Foreign Seafarers

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] The Korea Shipowners' Association and the National Federation of Maritime Seamen's Unions recently announced on the 20th that they have delivered 200,000 masks for foreign seafarers, supported by the government, to South Korea's foreign fleet operating worldwide.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), domestic shipping companies have been procuring masks both domestically and internationally as mask-wearing became mandatory when ships enter foreign ports. However, as the mask shortage worsened after the spread of COVID-19, each shipping company has faced difficulties supplying masks to seafarers.

In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries accepted the requests from the Shipowners' Association and the Seamen's Union, who asked for support in supplying masks to seafarers boarding foreign vessels, and on the 17th, provided 200,000 masks for seafarers.

Kim Young-moo, the full-time vice chairman of the Shipowners' Association, said, "Foreign shipping companies have had great difficulty securing masks for seafarers aboard foreign vessels," adding, "This government support will help resolve such difficulties."

Meanwhile, on the 9th, the Shipowners' Association purchased 65,000 masks for its member companies and supplied them to shipping companies at prices lower than the market rate.

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