"Floating Smoothly, Is This Really a Ship Ride?... First Whistle for Eco-Friendly Busan Port Guide Vessel"

A new vessel has made its debut to guide ships at Busan Port. This eco-friendly ship, which glides through the waves in silence and even lulls the tides, was unveiled for the first time at Busan Port and has been deployed for port guidance work.

Busan Port Authority (BPA), led by President Song Sanggeun, announced on December 11 that it held a launching ceremony for the new port guide ship, "e-Green," in the North Port area of Busan. The event was attended by over 200 people, including members of the National Assembly, representatives of civic groups, and port logistics officials, marking the start of its official operation.

Since its introduction in 2005, the port guide ship operated by Busan Port Authority has played a key role as the "Busan Port Ambassador," introducing Busan Port to a total of around 200,000 domestic and international visitors over the past 20 years.

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It is estimated that about 70% of all passengers have been ordinary citizens and students, underscoring the ship’s significant contribution to raising public understanding and affinity for Busan Port.

Busan Port Authority decided to introduce a new vessel as the previous guide ship, "Saenuri," had reached 28 years of service and its hull had become outdated. The new ship was constructed by Kangnam Shipyard, a local Busan company, and delivered this past August. Its safety was verified through more than four months of trial operations.

The newly launched "e-Green" is a two-story catamaran with a gross tonnage of 309 tons, a length of 40 meters, and a width of 11 meters-twice the size of the previous guide ship. It can accommodate up to 88 passengers and has a maximum speed of 17 knots. Most notably, it has earned the distinction of being the first government-operated port guide ship in Korea to receive eco-friendly vessel certification.

Powered by batteries instead of an internal combustion engine, the ship operates with minimal noise and vibration. Since it emits no exhaust fumes, passengers can enjoy Busan Port in a more pleasant environment.

Busan Port Authority explained that the introduction of this eco-friendly guide ship is a symbolic step in proactively responding to the global shipping and logistics industry's trend toward decarbonization. The Authority also highlighted the pride of securing a high-quality guide ship befitting Busan Port’s status as the world’s seventh-largest container port and the world’s second-largest transshipment port. This upgrade enables the provision of even higher-level services to both domestic and international visitors to Busan Port.

The "e-Green" will operate regular cruises for the general public every Wednesday at 2 p.m. Reservations can be made through the "Port Guide Ship Application" section on the Busan Port Authority website. Bookings for the following month open on the last Monday of each month.

Song Sanggeun, President of Busan Port Authority, emphasized, "Just as its name suggests, e-Green will become an icon of an eco-friendly port, making Busan Port even cleaner. I hope many citizens will enjoy the charm of Busan Port on the quiet and cozy sea."

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