Port of Busan Container Safety Experts Gather in One Place

[Financial News] A forum was organized for safety experts in the container sector to gather and discuss a range of issues aimed at strengthening safety capabilities in the Port of Busan’s container industry.
The Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries held the “2026 Workshop on Strengthening Container Safety Management Capacity at the Port of Busan” at the Busan Lotte Hotel on the morning of the 12th.

Held for the 10th time this year, the workshop brought together key safety management stakeholders in container shipping operations at the Port of Busan to review the port’s safety management system and strengthen communication among them. Many people involved in shipping and port operations, including container owners and shipping companies, took part.
The event was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. First, Heo Min-hyeok, an official with the Seafarers and Maritime Safety Division of the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, gave a presentation on “2026 Hazardous Container Inspection Status and Key Cases of Noncompliance and Corrective Action.” He cited poor placard condition, incorrect UN number formatting, and missing labels on packages inside containers as major safety risks, and explained how placards should be affixed to containers.
Next, Lee Yong-chan, head of the Busan Branch of the Korea Maritime Dangerous Goods Inspection Center, gave a presentation on “The Latest Amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).” He shared updates including the definition of degree of filling for containers, the introduction of regulations for sodium-ion batteries, the addition of 11 new dangerous goods, the addition of special provisions concerning automobiles to dangerous goods carried in transport, and other additions to the list of dangerous goods.
In the afternoon session, Kim Pil-ja, an inspector with the Seafarers and Maritime Safety Division of the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, presented an overview of laws and regulations related to container safety inspections and the results of guidance and supervision in 2026. Park Jun-young, an investigator with the Busan Regional Maritime Safety Tribunal, then presented cases of marine accidents involving container ships.
Jung Seung-gil, a senior surveyor at Korean Register, also presented on “Container Type Approval, Performance Testing, and Cases of Structural Defects.” The event concluded with a group discussion on “Measures for Container Safety Management.”
“The Port of Busan, which represents Korea, handled 24.77 million TEU of containers last year, a record high. Of that total, hazardous containers accounted for 770,000 TEU. The Busan office, together with safety managers, inspected a total of 6,563 TEU, identified 322 defects, and took safety measures,” said Heo Man-uk, chief of the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries. “Systematic safety management of hazardous containers and thorough on-site inspections are not merely preventive activities; they are about protecting the safety of workers and, ultimately, Busan citizens. We, too, will listen more closely to voices from the field, pursue effective policies and institutional improvements, and work together to make the Port of Busan safer.”[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter