Industry ministry advances green shipping lanes with new regulations

The industry ministry announced Thursday it will hold a legislative preview for enforcement decrees under the Special Act on Green Shipping Lanes from Sept. 2 to Oct. 13 to define requirements for eco-friendly ports and clarify fuel standards.

The proposed rules specify methanol, hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and renewable synthetic fuels as eligible power sources and establish procedures for designating official green shipping lanes by route, departure and arrival points, and vessel type.

Concurrently, the ministry and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries are pushing forward the second basic plan for eco-friendly ship development covering 2026 through 2035. The initiative targets converting private and public vessels over the next decade.

The plan focuses on research into future low-carbon vessels, commercialization of new technologies and expansion of fuel supply infrastructure, with special attention given to strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized shipyards and parts suppliers.

Kim Eui-joong, director general for manufacturing industry policy at the ministry, said the government will accelerate the artificial intelligence transformation of the shipbuilding sector and strengthen strategic cooperation with the shipping industry through a consultative body launched in April.

Jeong Do-hyun, head of the maritime safety bureau at the oceans ministry, noted that while existing laws focused on ship support, the new special act aims to support decarbonization across the entire shipping process.