Korean group offers free ship design

South Korean marine engineers are sharing modern shipbuilding technology with Philippine shipbuilders

South Korean marine engineers are boosting the country’s shipbuilding industry by offering local builders free designs for modern ships.

The Busan Marine Engineering Association or BUEA is providing the transfer of technology under a memorandum of agreement with the Maritime Industry Authority implementing the latter’s Integrated Ship Construction Support System Project.

Marina and the group signed the deal during the Korea-Philippines Ship Technology Development Cooperation Forum in November and the agency’s Shipyards Regulation Service Director II Engr. Ramon Hernandez introduced the project last 16 January.

“The role of Marina is to assist the shipyards and shipping companies in availing modern ship design by BUEA based on the shipowner requirements. This is free and Marina will assist the company in getting financing from government institutions like the Development Bank of the Philippines,” Hernandez said, referring to the mechanics of the project.

Korea Offshore and Shipbuilding Engineering Cooperative ambassador Hyoung Kyu Park, who also attended the BUEA-Marina meeting last Monday, said the project will help enhance the development of the Philippine maritime sector, particularly the shipbuilding and ship repair as well as the country’s domestic shipping industries.

Also present in the meeting were KOSEC Secretary General Joung-Don Kim, Marina French Maritime Expert Emeric Faure, Marina Shipyard Development and Licensing Division chief Engr. Maria Teresa Mamisao and other staff of Marina’s Shipyards Regulation Service, Overseas Shipping Service, and Domestic Shipping Service; stakeholders from different domestic shipping companies including Oceanic Container Lines Inc. Asst. Designated Person Ashore Kirk Arizeus Ceballos, Joel Porto of Magsaysay Shipment Inc. and Capt. Jimmy Santos and Capt. Welhelmino de Guzman of 2GO Group Inc.