Mokpo Namhang, Groundbreaking of Eco-Friendly Ship Research Support Infrastructure

Operation in 2025: Performance Evaluation Building, Charging Test Building, Maintenance Building, Research Building, etc.

[Mokpo=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Hyeong-seok] An eco-friendly ship research support facility (infrastructure) will be established at Mokpo Namhang.

According to Mokpo City, the "Eco-friendly Ship Research Support Facility (Infrastructure) Groundbreaking Ceremony" was held on the 27th at Namhang, attended by Song Myeong-dal, Director of Marine Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo, Park Chang-hwan, Deputy Governor for Political Affairs of Jeollanam-do, Kim Bu-gi, Director of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), and other related agency heads as well as representatives from shipping, shipbuilding, and equipment companies.

The infrastructure for supporting eco-friendly ship research, with a local government investment of 39 billion KRW, will consist of ▲a performance evaluation building for ship electric propulsion systems ▲a charging test building for mobile power supply systems ▲a maintenance building for the offshore test bed ▲a research building ▲and an international cooperation building. The research facilities are planned to be fully operational starting in 2025.

The eco-friendly ship education and research district (65,000㎡), including the infrastructure site (32,000㎡), is located east of the Namhang redevelopment site (380,000㎡).

The research infrastructure foundation was established through a public contest reflecting the vision of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The Korea Development Corporation of Jeollanam-do participates under the leadership of KRISO, a government-funded research institute, responsible for the design and construction of facilities for new technology development and corporate support.

As international regulations on ship air pollution emissions, including those by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), continue to tighten, global competition to develop eco-friendly ship technologies is accelerating. The domestic and international shipbuilding and shipping markets are rapidly transitioning to eco-friendly ship systems.

The southwestern region of Jeollanam-do, centered on Mokpo, is home to a concentration of domestic coastal vessels, making it an optimal location for eco-friendly ship technology development and commercialization. This also provides very favorable conditions to transform the stagnant local shipbuilding industry into a high value-added new industry.

Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo, said, "We are pleased that the foundation for the eco-friendly ship industry, which will be a new breakthrough for achieving carbon neutrality and regional economic development, is being established in Mokpo. We will spare no support to help it become a world-class integrated complex encompassing research and development, demonstration, and workforce training related to eco-friendly ships."

Meanwhile, the city is promoting "eco-friendly ship industry development" as a new future growth engine for the region, working organically with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Jeollanam-do, KRISO, and others to accelerate related projects.

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