2. Reason for Proposal

The revision aims to include maritime development activities conducted in passenger vessel navigation routes where large-scale casualties are anticipated in the event of a maritime accident, as subjects of maritime traffic safety examinations. Furthermore, with the implementation of the vessel safety manager qualification system under Article 64 of the Maritime Traffic Safety Act (effective January 5, 2024), the revision aims to supplement the current safety management system by enhancing the expertise of maritime safety professionals and deregulation. This includes recognizing the qualification of vessel safety manager as equivalent to the current qualification standards of certification examiner and maritime safety supervisor which require a marine officer license.

3. Main Contents

A. Improvement of the delegation provisions regarding exemption from submitting safety examination reports (Article 28 (1) of the draft)

The revision prescribes that the head of the Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries shall be excluded from the delegation provision if the head, reviewing the exemption from submitting the maritime traffic safety examination report, is also the project implementer.

B. Improvement of the authority and delegation provisions to impose administrative fines (Article 28 (2) of the draft)

The revision aims to delegate the authority to impose administrative fines to the head of the Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, the chief of the coast guard station, and Mayor/Do Governor, as certain provisions in the current regulations do not specify the persons with authority to impose fines.

C. Expansion of the projects subject to maritime traffic safety examination (Attached Table 4 of the draft)

The revision aims to include maritime development projects conducted in sea areas where passenger vessels engaged in passenger transportation services under Subparagraphs 1 and 2 of Article 3 of the Maritime Transportation Act operate, regardless of the vessel's length, as subjects of maritime traffic safety examinations.

D. Expansion of the qualification standards for certification examiners and maritime safety supervisors (Attached Table 5 and attached Table 6 of the draft)

The revision allows the utilization of the qualification of "vessel safety manager" by recognizing it as equivalent to the requirements for "certification examiner" and "maritime safety supervisor," which previously only require the experience of a marine officer.