1. Reason for enactment

A strategic response is required by Korea in order to preemptively occupy the world-standard technologies related to autonomous ships in order to maintain its status as a traditional shipbuilding and maritime powerhouse, as it possesses world-class technologies in the field of IT and electronics, which are essential to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To that end, a new Act has been enacted to promote the development and commercialization of autonomous ships (Law No. 19909; promulgated on January 2, 2024). The proposed Enforcement Rule is designed to provide the matters delegated by the Act and the matters necessary for their enforcement, including the survey of the status of autonomous ships and the training of specialized personnel.

2. Main contents

a. Survey of the status of autonomous ships (Article 2 of the draft)

It provides that the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries may, if necessary, disclose the results of the status survey on their websites, and also stipulates the matters necessary for determining the status survey through consultation.

b. Training of specialized personnel (Article 3 of the draft)

It stipulates the standards and procedures for designating organizations for the training of specialized personnel for autonomous ships.