Ganghwa County Begins Full Construction of 57-Ton Water Jet Fisheries Guidance Vessel

[Suwon Ilbo=Choi Ki-ho Reporter] Ganghwa County announced on the 29th that it is beginning full construction of a new 57-ton water jet propulsion-type fisheries guidance vessel to replace the existing one.

The fisheries guidance vessel being constructed will replace the 'Incheon No. 206,' which was built in 1995 and has been operating for approximately 30 years, and will be responsible for the safety of coastal fishing grounds in border areas.

A total of 5.7 billion won in project funds will be invested in the replacement construction project, and the water jet propulsion method will be introduced. The water jet propulsion system is characterized by having high safety as the propeller is not exposed to the outside, and it enables stable navigation even in shallow water areas.

Based on these advantages, the county plans to further enhance safety for fishermen operating in coastal fishing grounds in border areas. In particular, it is expected to be effective in strengthening on-site response functions such as △safety guidance for fishing vessels △crackdowns on illegal fishing △and prevention of maritime accidents.

The county began design consulting work last year and completed it in April of this year, and proceeded through contract review, preliminary coordination with related agencies, and bidding procedures before beginning full construction starting in December this year.

Additionally, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 16th, which was attended by County Governor Park Yong-chul and other senior civil servants, the captain and chief engineer of the fisheries guidance vessel, and related personnel from the shipbuilder and supervisory firms, where they discussed the project promotion direction and schedule.

The county is pursuing this replacement construction project with a target completion date of December next year. Through this project, the county plans to resolve safety concerns caused by aging vessels, create a safe working environment for fishermen, and improve overall efficiency in maritime administration including maritime crackdowns and safety guidance for fishing vessels.

County Governor Park Yong-chul stated, "The fisheries guidance vessel is a key public vessel directly linked to the lives of fishermen at sea," and added, "We will make every effort in project management to ensure that vessels with strengthened safety guidance functions are deployed in a timely manner through this project."