Busan, South Korea – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Enforcement Service Director Ronaldo P. Bandalaria participated as a resource speaker at the 2024 International Workshop on the Safety Investigation of Marine Casualty (IWSIMC), under the invitation and sponsorship of the Korea Marine Safety Tribunal (KMST), on 27 June 2024.

The workshop, attended by over 100 marine safety investigators from various districts of South Korea, as well as maritime experts and international delegates, aimed to enhance knowledge sharing, expertise exchange, and collaboration among safety investigators. It also served as a networking platform to foster better cooperation for improving maritime safety through effective safety investigations.

Key discussions at the IWSIMC focused on the investigation of ship foundering and fires on ships carrying electric vehicles (EVs), emphasizing the importance of crew interviews and scientific methods in formulating recommendations for foundering cases, while recent EV fire incidents sparked discussions on the adequacy of current safety regulations in preventing and combating such fires.

During the event, Director Bandalaria collaborated with the Busan Port Authority and the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT) in site visits, reinforcing the spirit of cooperation with KMST.

MARINA’s participation aligns with the Philippines’ international commitment as a flag administration and supports the implementation of the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP), aiming for a safer and more secure maritime industry.

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