" PNU-IDN : Joining to Utilize Eco-Friendly Ships for Collecting Marine Waste "

Jeong-In Cha, President of Pusan National University, and Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, Director General for Marine Spatial Management in Indonesia 

(Photo by PNU).

The Republic of Indonesia has partnered with Pusan National University (PNU) to develop an eco-friendly ship for marine waste disposal. PNU and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries have signed an MOU.

PNU announced that they signed an "MOU for Cooperation in the Shipbuilding and Maritime Affairs" with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia on 2 June 2003, at the 1st Conference Room on the 5th floor of the University Headquarters in Geumjeong-gu, Busan. The President Cha Jeong-in of Pusan National University, Victor Gustaaf Manoppo, Director General of Marine Spatial Management Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries attended the signing ceremony. Also, a delegation from the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, including Dr. Hendra Yusran Siri and JaeMyeong Lee, the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center director, attended the event.

The primary goal of the MOU is to develop an "Eco-friendly Ship for Collection and Disposal of Marine Floating Waste in the Republic of Indonesia." The Hydrogen Ship Technology Center (HSTC) at PNU, a leading organization in the field, specializes in developing hydrogen-powered ships capable of disposing of marine waste onboard. The Hydrogen Ship Technology Center (HSTC) at PNU is leading this initiative launched in April 2022 and sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and local governments. Over five years, this multi-ministry project has invested approximately 50 billion won (Korean currency).

Indonesia is a maritime nation with a population of 273.8 million and more than 17,000 islands. It is widely recognized as the world's second-largest generator of marine waste, prompting the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to actively seek solutions. They first invited the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center to Indonesia in April. As a result of close consultations on joint vessel utilization and technology transfer, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the HSTC at Pusan National University signed an agreement.

Pusan National University Hydrogen Ship Technology Center and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia have agreed to promote the deployment of an ocean cleanup vessel (tentatively named Ocean Cleanup Vessel) in Indonesia's marine cleaning activities, expected to be commercially viable by 2027. The agreement also includes joint efforts to utilize and disseminate the research and development results in waste-based hydrogen production and hydrogen-powered ships.

The two organizations have also agreed to establish the Korea-Indonesia Eco Ship Cooperation Center (KISC), and the Hydrogen Ship Technology Center at PNU will operate the center. KISC will facilitate the exchange of technology and human resources in the field of eco-friendly ships between the two countries and collaborate on new business models such as waste management and cold chain logistics. The agreement will allow eco-friendly ship technologies from the Republic of Korea to open the Indonesian market.

In light of this agreement, PNU pursues international cooperation, including the establishment of an international joint research institute with the renowned naval and maritime engineering university, ITS (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopemb) University in Surabaya, using resources such as the Korea-Indonesia Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs.

"We expect PNU to contribute to solving international problems such as marine waste through high-level eco-friendly ship technology and to serve as a stepping stone for Korea's entry into the Indonesian shipbuilding and marine industry," said Jeong-In Cha, president of PNU.

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