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According to the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), since the "Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Act" was enacted on June 4 last year, users have been highly satisfied with the vessel traffic control services for the past year.
Before the enactment of the law, regulations on vessel traffic had been delegated to various laws and subordinate statutes, including the Maritime Safety Act. Moreover, the authority had been divided between the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and KCG, amplifying the need to streamline relevant laws and have a single organization in charge.
KCG surveyed VTS users, including ship operators, and found that 77% of the respondents said the enforcement of the VTS Act had a positive impact on ship safety.
KCG attributed the improved user satisfaction to the efforts to raise awareness about the VTS Act for users since the initial phase.
In addition, the VTS Act specifies the obligations of ship operators and ship traffic controllers to report maritime accidents and share the information with other vessels, respectively. It has also contributed to increasing user satisfaction with the VTS.
Meanwhile, KCG held an online pledge ceremony on June 4 to reflect on the enactment of the VTS Act. An officer from KCG said, "We will continue to do our best to enforce the law for maritime safety."
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