On the 19th, Governor Kim Tae-heum of South Chungcheong Province visited the Taean Gyeokbi Archipelago, which is the starting point of the westernmost territorial waters in the central West Sea and is called the ‘Dokdo of the West Sea’.
This is to check the progress of the development of state-managed coastal ports and explore ways to turn marine tourism into a resource, preserve the marine environment, and protect fish stocks.
The Gyeokyeobiyeoldo Island, which Governor Kim visited on this day using Korea’s first eco-friendly hybrid ship, the Evergreen Chungnam, is located 55km west of Anheung Port in Taean.
It was named so because it looks like birds flying in rows, and is made up of three islands in the north, west, and east, as well as annexed islands.
The total area is 501,900㎡, which is about 2.7 times larger than Dokdo (187,554㎡).
Bukgyeokryeolbido, where the lighthouse is installed, measures 93,601㎡, and Seogyeokryeolbido is located in the westernmost part of the central West Sea at 36 degrees 36 minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 32 minutes east longitude. Donggyeokryeol Bido is the largest of the three islands.
In particular, the Gyeobiyeoldo Island is only 268km away from China’s Shandong Peninsula and only 22km away from the open sea.
It is also said that illegal fishing by Chinese fishing boats is prevalent in this area as it is rich in fish resources.
The island that the Chinese attempted to purchase in 2014 is Seogyeokryeolbido.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries believes that a state-managed coastal port should be established in the Gyeokbi Archipelago in order to protect the territory and national security, protect fisheries resources, develop key ports in the central West Sea, develop marine tourism resources, support the installation of marine observation equipment, and reduce social costs. After continuous requests, it was finally designated as a ‘violent island port’ after the launch of the 8th popular election.
Accordingly, Gyeokryeolbito Port will be established on Bukgyeokryeolbito, where the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries manned lighthouse and the Korea Meteorological Administration’s West Sea Comprehensive Meteorological Observation Station are located.
This port is expected to be used for the main purposes of territorial waters management and ship shelter. Upon completion of development, it is expected to have the following effects: △blocking the source of territorial disputes, △promptly responding to illegal fishing by Chinese fishing boats by shortening the dispatch distance of coast guard and fishing instructor ships, and △inducing safe navigation of vessels. do.
The dispatch time for Coast Guard patrol vessels and national fishery guidance vessels is expected to be shortened by about 2 hours compared to departure from Taean Anheung Port.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is currently pursuing a service to establish a basic plan for new ports, including Gyeokbiyeol Island Port.
Afterwards, the first steps will be taken with the goal of constructing a dock within 2030 after reflecting the port basic plan and establishing basic and detailed designs.
Considering that the management plan and project cost of Gyeokbi Island Port are determined through the services of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the province is focusing its response with the goal of reflecting the development of a multi-purpose port.
Governor Kim Tae-heum said, “Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Island is a diplomatic and military strategic point, and a place where the national reference point that determines our territory is established.” He added, “Our province strongly recommends to the government that Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Island should be developed into a key base port to protect the West Sea and national territory.” He explained, “Thanks to these efforts, it was able to be designated as a nationally managed coastal port.”
Governor Kim went on to say, “If we build a new port, it will play a big role in protecting our territory,” and that after developing the port, “We will also consider ways to turn it into a tourism resource to increase public understanding and interest in the Gyeokryeolbiyeoldo Island.”
Governor Kim also said, “To preserve the marine environment and protect fish resources, we will spend 23.3 billion won to promote a zero marine waste project by 2025, add ships specializing in marine floating and settled waste disposal, produce eco-friendly buoys, and develop garbage collection robots.” “We will focus on this,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Evergreen Chungnam was built to directly transport marine waste collected from 6 cities, counties, and 18 islands along the West Sea coast, which each city and county had entrusted to the private sector to transport.
The 131-ton vessel has a total length of 32 m, a width of 7 m, and a depth of 2.3 m, a maximum speed of 13 knots (24 km/h), and a maximum cruising distance of 1,200 km. It operates at an average speed of 6 knots for up to 40 minutes with battery-powered electric propulsion. can do.
Eco-friendly hybrid ships, like cars, use diesel engines when traveling at high speeds and electric motors when traveling at low speeds or short distances.
©’Global economic newspaper in 5 languages’ Aju Economic Daily. Reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
