2. Reasons for Proposal

  Current standards on the registration and reporting of harbor transport businesses and harbor transport-related businesses have been unamended for a long time and do not always account for the present-day reality of harbor operations. This Amendment adjusts the standards in consideration of such factors as the cargo volume of each harbor, number of entering and exiting ships, stevedoring equipment, ship prices, and size changes as recommended by the Regulatory Reform Committee. It prescribes grounds to newly insert registration standards for methanol bunkering vessels to promote the supply of environmentally friendly ship fuels, and improves work efficiency by modifying regulations on delegation of authority regarding the acceptance of reports on appraising business and weighing business fees and the issuance of tallyman qualification certificates.  

3. Major Provisions

A. Transfer authority over the acceptance of reports on appraising/weighing business fees (Article 27 (1) 5)

  Transfer authority over the acceptance of reports on national trade port-related appraising/weighing fees from the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to the heads of Regional Offices of Oceans and Fisheries in accordance with the change in the managing authority for appraising/weighing businesses (from the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries to the heads of Regional Offices of Oceans and Fisheries and Mayors/Do Governors / Act amended in June 2023, enforced in December 2023).

B. Prescribe a single entity for issuing tallyman qualification certificates (Article 27 (1) 4)

  Ensure systematic issuance of tallyman, appraiser, and weighman qualification certificates by specifying the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries as the single issuer of tallyman qualification certificates in the same manner as appraiser and weighman qualification certificates.

C. Amend registration and reporting standards for harbor transport businesses, harbor transport-related businesses, and comprehensive harbor service businesses (attached Tables 1, 2, 5-2, and 6 amended)

 Lower the entry barrier for new businesses and provide flexible support to existing businesses by streamlining registration and reporting standards for harbor transport businesses and harbor transport-related businesses to account for the present-day circumstances of harbor operation in accordance with improvements recommended by the Regulatory Reform Committee (May 2023). Partially increase capital requirements in the registration standards for comprehensive harbor service businesses to encourage business scaling and service advancement and ensure the ability to establish integrated safety control systems.

D. Prescribe registration standards for methanol bunkering vessels (attached Table 6)

  Address the demand for methanol bunkering (from 2024) resulting from the tightening of carbon neutrality regulations (until 2050) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by prescribing in the legislation (Decree) grounds to newly insert detailed registration standards for methanol bunkering vessels (fenders, etc.) in the subordinate administrative rule (Guidelines on the Handling of Harbor Transport Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Notice).