Reducing Negative Aftermath
On September 4, the South Korean government held a meeting presided over by Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-Suk and attended by nine ministries in order to increase the number of ports of call for national flag carriers so that the maritime logistics-related problems attributable to the receivership of Hanjin Shipping can be dealt with.
At the meeting, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said that it would employ ships of Hyundai Merchant Marine for the routes of Hanjin Shipping as previously planned and discussed an increase in the number of ports of call.
Specifically, four and nine Hyundai Merchant Marine ships are scheduled to be used from September 8 and the second week of this month in the shipping routes between Asia and the Western United States and between Asia and Europe, respectively. In addition, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is going to come up with emergency measures so that unloading from Hanjin Shipping vessels at South Korean ports can be done without a hitch.
At the Ports of Busan, Incheon and the like, Hanjin Shipping vessels’ port entry has been denied as some unloading operators have refused to do their job for the reasons including delayed payment. The South Korean government is looking to have talks with foreign governments and terminals so that the same situation is not repeated abroad.