YGPA Establishes ‘YGPA-Type’ New Deal Comprehensive Implementation Strategies

President Cha Min-sik of the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (YGPA) attends a ceremony to sign an MOU on the introduction of hydrogen-powered yard tractors with SK E&S, Capacity, GWCT and KIT on Dec. 10.

The Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (YGPA) has established the 3rd “YGPA-type” New Deal Comprehensive Implementation Strategies to realize the sustainable development of Gwangyang Port in accordance with the government’s Korean New Deal 2.0 initiative.

YGPA said on Nov. 30 it will implement 38 tasks in three sectors — the Digital New Deal, Green New Deal and Human New Deal — to create 7,871 jobs by investing 787.1 billion won.

The strategies are designed to cope with rising demand for online and non-face-to-face trade, digitalize the ports based on the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution, and establish ports with eco-friendly carbon neutrality and energy self-sufficiency.

Among 13 action tasks associated with the Digital New Deal segment are a project to build a testbed for automating Gwangyang Port, one to introduce an intelligent system to prevent port worksite safety accidents, and another to protect the safety and lives of people and workers using Safety First Flying Patrols (SFFP).

Another is the introduction of building information modeling (BIM), a next-generation construction technology of Yeosu and Gwangyang ports.

Among 12 action tasks, associated with the Green New Deal sector are the establishment of a roadmap to make Yeosu and Gwangyang ports low-carbon, eco-friendly, and “smart” by 2040, realizing “RE-100” by expanding renewable energy use at Gwangyang Port, expanding ESG management using low-carbon, eco-friendly recycled resources, and the development of floating marine wave power generation systems.

Among the 13 action tasks, associated with the Human New Deal segment are the operation of “The Dream Smart Center,” which is designed to nurture new port logistics technologies, building an integrated disinfection system designed to ensure the safe and pleasant use of wharves, a mutual aid cooperative designed to nurture long-time core manpower, and improving the quality of jobs through covering temps into regular jobs.

YGPA President Cha Min-sik said, “We’ve chosen YGPA-type comprehensive implementation tasks to comply with an age of changes, caused by a crisis coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and further spearhead leadership.”

They are expected to contribute to invigorating the national economy and creating jobs, as well as realizing parts of the Korean New Deal 2.0 at Gwangyang Port, he added.

A concept diagram of marine integrated carbon neutrality infrastructure designed to promote the sustainable development of Yeosu and Gwangyang ports. (Photos: YGPA)

YGPA Implement Projects to Develop New Technologies to Ensure Carbon Neutrality of Ports

YGPA said on Dec. 13 it was implementing projects to develop eco-friendly infrastructure technologies to make ports sustainable.

YGPA plans to build carbon-neutral port infrastructure using eco-break water system (EBS), port construct technologies based on carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) and floating wave power generation for upcycling of waste batteries in cooperation with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST).

The EBS project, one of candidate tasks chosen by the Oceans and Fisheries Science Technology Consultation Commit, is designed to establish wave power generation systems at outer and inner port seawalls.

It will be built with concrete mixed with CO2 captured based on the CCUS technology.