Visit Yellow Sea Islands on Gyeonggi Bada-ho
(Published August 13, 2012)

Government-run ship began daily service last June

◇ Gyeonggi Bada-ho entered into service this June. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heon Seon-ryang

An all-purpose call center, Gyeonggi Bada-ho, glides through Gyeonggi Bay

The new government ship Gyeonggi Bada-ho began its daily runs in June, one month after its launching ceremony. This super yacht, which was designed to respond to any coastal-related administrative and civil complaints, is equipped with cutting-edge technology as befits the beautiful Yellow Sea coast and its marina port.

Gyeonggi Bada-ho was built with a government budget of KRW 4.8 billion to replace the former government-funded vessel, the Gyeonggi 212-ho. Work on the new ship began in September 2011 and was completed six months later.

Gyeonggi 212 was an antiquated ship with twenty years of service behind it. Its main purpose was to escort fishing vessels, but it could only carry ten people. However, its successor, Gyeonggi Bada-ho, is a 129-ton vessel measuring 30.8 meters in length and capable of carrying up to 38 people. It can travel at 25 knots (46m/h) and is equipped with its own solar and wind power generator.

The ship’s interior is divided into storage areas, crew facilities, a medical clinic, and a supply room. Its upper main deck consists of a conference room, cafeteria, bathroom, and multipurpose area, as well as the wheelhouse, another bathroom, civil consultation room, and observatory.

The multipurpose room and conference room are perfect for greeting international and domestic VIPs interested in investing in the marine leisure industry. The medical clinic, civil consultation room, and office are always available for administrative duties.

◇ Photo of the multipurpose room ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

◇ Photo of the conference room ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

Gyeonggi Province introduced the “Gyeonggi Sea Call Center” in 2010. Gyeonggi Bada-ho embodies this policy and serves all provincial residents, making daily trips every day of the year.

The ship travels between Jeongok Harbor, Pung Island, Yuk Island, Gukhwa Island, Ippa Island, and back to Jeongok Harbor. Among its many purposes, it can be used to transport emergency patients and deliver mail. Local residents, students who commute to other islands, and all provincial residents are welcome aboard the government ship.

Gyeonggi Province also plans to utilize the ship as a ubiquitous government office, an attraction for marine leisure and sports industry investors, an emergency rescue ship, and much more. It will also support the efforts of various private volunteer groups and cultural performances.

Kim Sang-yeol, a marine policy official of the Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Division, said, “I hope to see more volunteer groups come and help the inhabitants of these isolated islands. Gyeonggi Bada-ho will assist them.”

Any organization or local resident interested in Gyeonggi Bada-ho can call the Maritime & Fisheries Affairs Division at +82-31-8008-4528.

The Gyeonggi Sea Call Center dispatched its ship 502 times between January and late June 2010, serving over 3,903 residents. The number of people it assists is growing yearly.
◇The wheelhouse ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

ⓒ G-News Plus News / Rohh Kyeong-hui khrohh@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201208131003067055C048&s_code=C048