Korean Register

KR's Leadership at Our Ocean Conference: Bridging Safety and Innovation for Maritime Sustainability

30 Jun. 2025

The 10th Our Ocean Conference took place in Busan, South Korea from April 28-30, 2025, bringing together global ocean leaders to drive collective action for maritime sustainability. Korean Register (KR) played a pivotal role in shaping the future of green shipping throughout the conference.

Class as a Bridge: Essential Role of Classification Societies

On April 29, Chairman and CEO of KR, LEE Hyungchul addressed on "The Journey of Green Transition and the Evolving Role of Classification Societies," at the Shipping & Shipbuilding Business Summit.

Mr. LEE highlighted how classification societies now strive to close the gap between technological advancement and regulatory frameworks. This bridging role requires maintaining a delicate balance between safety and innovation. While safety remains the unchanging core principle, the key challenge lies in ensuring both elements advance together without delaying the sustainable transition.

As early evaluators of emerging technologies, classification societies like KR assess safety implications from the initial stages of development, providing critical technical input to international bodies such as the IMO to help shape future-proof global regulations.

Korea-U.S. Green Shipping Corridor: From Vision to Action

Beyond the keynote address, KR demonstrated its commitment to practical action by co-hosting the side event "Toward Green Shipping by 2050: ROK-US Green Shipping Corridors" with Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). The event showcased international cooperation through the joint statement on the implementation roadmap for the establishment of “Green Shipping Corridors between Korea and the U.S.”

This groundbreaking initiative brought together major industry stakeholders including The Northwest Seaport Alliance, KR, Busan Port Authority (BPA), Ulsan Port Authority (UPA), HMM and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. The roadmap outlines concrete milestones, including the development of infrastructure and stable supply chains for alternative marine fuels such as green methanol. A dedicated green container ship route will be launched between Korean ports (Busan and Ulsan) and U.S. ports (Seattle and Tacoma), featuring vessels powered by carbon neutral fuels.

Event Schedule and Key Participants

Time	Program	Key Participants
14:40-14:45	Opening Remarks	- Kang Dohyung (Minister of Oceans and Fisheries)
14:45-14:52	Joint Statement & LOI Signing	- KR, BPA, UPA, HMM, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Northwest Seaport Alliance
15:00-15:20	Current Status and Future Outlook	- SONG Kanghyun (Senior Vice President, KR) - Johan Svendsen (Program Manager, MMMC)
15:20-16:05	Panel Discussion: "Toward Green Shipping by 2050"	- SONG Sangkeun (President, BPA) - BYEON Jaeyoung (President, UPA) - KIM Minkang (Director, HMM) - Yasuyuki Sakurai (Senior Manager, Wallenius Wilhelmsen) - Toshiko Hasegawa (President, Port of Seattle Commission) - John McCarthy (Representative, Port of Tacoma Commission) - SONG Kanghyun (Senior Vice President, KR) (*Moderator)

Bridging the Future: KR's Commitment to Sustainable Maritime Leadership

KR's active participation at the 10th Our Ocean Conference exemplified the organization's philosophy of transforming commitments into decisive action. The combination of strategic vision through Chairman LEE's keynote address and practical implementation through the Korea-U.S. Green Shipping Corridor initiative demonstrates the comprehensive approach required for maritime sustainability.

The success of these initiatives reinforces the critical role of classification societies as bridges between current maritime practices and future sustainable operations. Through technical expertise, regulatory guidance, and international collaboration, KR continues to ensure that the maritime industry's transformation toward carbon neutrality by 2050 proceeds both safely and effectively.

As Chairman LEE concluded, "A sustainable maritime future depends on innovation, cooperation, and decisive actions by all stakeholders." KR remains committed to supporting this transition by serving as a practical bridge toward global maritime decarbonization.

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