Busan Port ship open day draws nearly 1,800 visitors

The Busan Port Authority (BPA) said Monday that its "Busan Port Ship Open Day and Experience Event," held June 19 and 20 at the BPA headquarters and the Busan Port coastal passenger terminal, concluded successfully as part of celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Busan Port's opening.

The two-day event was organized to deepen public understanding of Busan Port and the maritime industry. Participating institutions included Pusan National University, the Busan Maritime Police Station, the National Institute of Oceanography and the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology, which opened rarely seen public maritime vessels to visitors.

Nearly 1,800 people attended over the two days, showing strong interest in the event. Visitors toured a total of five vessels — including a patrol ship, an oceanographic survey vessel, a training ship and an eco-friendly port guidance vessel — and took part in a range of hands-on programs.

Particularly popular attractions included a tour of the observation and survey equipment aboard Pusan National University's vessel Nara, a high-speed boat experience on Busan Maritime Police Station patrol ship No. 1501, a look at the advanced oceanographic equipment on the National Institute of Oceanography's vessel Onbada, and a navigation simulator session aboard the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology's vessel Hanbando.

Through the BPA's eco-friendly port guidance vessel E-Green, visitors experienced the technology behind the country's first 100 percent electrically propelled public vessel, offering a glimpse of Busan Port's future as an eco-friendly and smart port.

BPA President Song Sang-geun said the authority would continue to develop participatory programs so that citizens can engage more closely with Busan Port and experience the value of the sea firsthand.