S. Korean ship mooring standards get ISO recognition

By Lee Joon-seung

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- Ship mooring and fitting techniques adopted by South Korean shipyards have won recognition from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and will be used as global industry standards, a state agency said Thursday.

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards said the United States, Japan,
Britain and three other countries agreed to accept all 12 standards submitted by
South Korean shipyards, including global leader Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.
The standards, which will be officially designated as international norms in
2010, cover so-called mooring, towing and fittings equipment and facilities that
are used to secure ships to a harbor jetty or floating buoys.
"A set standard could enhance quality and ease design and building requirements
that translates into lower costs," said an agency official.
The agency said that the ISO's decision will help the country further strengthen
its dominant position in the shipping industry. Moorings and fittings are all
part of a ships design and construction.
In 2008, exports from South Korean shipyards totaled US$43.1 billion and won 16.4
million compensated gross tons of new orders in the first 10 months of the year,
roughly 41 percent of all global orders.