The Republic of Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology-Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
sign ballast water ground test equipment commission management MOU

The Republic of Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology (KIOST) (Director: Jung-Keuk Kang) reported that it has commissioned the management of ballast water ground test equipment by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Jin-Suk Yoon).

Ballast water refers to seawater that a ship is filled with or empties back into the sea in order to maintain its balance. This process has frequently been pointed out as the cause of harmful foreign marine organisms crossing national borders.

Government-certified ground test equipment for ballast water, equipment that tests the ability of a ship to react and whether environmentally harmful substances are included, was installed at the MOF South Sea Research Institute in February.

With the commission of the management of ballast water ground test equipment by MOF, KIOST will assume the overall responsibility for developing reliable ballast water technology, including running and managing equipment, ground test QA/QC, and management of miscellaneous tests on format certification.

Also, with the cooperation of the Ballast Water Test Equipment Management Committee  (Chair: Dong-Lim Choi, Director of South Sea Research Institute), composed of ballast water experts, KIOST will focus not only on the effective use and management of equipment but also the development of ballast water treatment technology that can attain global recognition for its quality.

MOU signing ceremony for ballast water ground test equipment commission management 
(5.8/Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries)

KIOST Vice Director Jang-Geun Lim (left) and Ministry of Oceans 
and Fisheries Maritime Safety Department Chief Hyeon-Chol Lim