1. The Winter Research Presentation of Arctic Technology Research Committee
As the government implements social distancing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 12nd Korea Arctic Technology Committee winter research presentation session was held online on February 25 (Thursday) in the same webinar format as the 11th summer research presentation session. Forty members from industry, academia, and research institutes participated in this research presentation, and it went comparatively smooth based on the experience of previous webinar events.
At the opening ceremony, Chairman Kyung Sik Choi of the Korea Arctic Technology Committee briefly explained the activities and future directions of the committee, which has entered the seventh year. Afterward, Chairman Hyun Soo Kim of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea delivered a congratulatory speech, mentioning the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the shipbuilding and marine industries and the method of interconnection with the polar field. In addition, after the speeches, there was an opportunity to share the results of research projects in the polar sector while divided into special and general sessions.
<Photo of opening remarks by Kyung Sik Choi, chairman of committee >
In the first lecture of the special session, Dr. Seong Yeob Jeong, who works at the ice model basin of Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), introduced the new polar research and development project of MOF conducted from October to December last year by the Korea Arctic Research Consortium (KoARC). KoARC conducted research on the development of convergence technology based on the Fourth Industrial Revolution that links science, industry, and policy to strengthen Korea’s capabilities to advance into the arctic region. In the presentation, Dr. Jeong mentioned that the sea ice area was reduced because of the recent changes in the environment of the arctic region, making the arctic sea transportation business act as a new business opportunity. Thus, the development of technology is needed to preemptively respond to these demands. In particular, the planned project amounts to a research cost of KRW 21 billion and aims to develop new Korean-style arctic route utilization technology and an economic and safe navigation simulator for ships that considers the arctic environment over the next five years. There is a promotion system consisting of eight KoARC member institutes, shipping companies, shipyards, information technology (IT) companies, government-funded research institution, classification societies, and universities.
In the second lecture, Mr. Won Sang Seo, the head of the next-generation ice-breaking research ship construction project group of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), explained the necessity of the next-generation ice-breaking research ship, the promotion goals and strategies of the construction project, and the plan for joint utilization regarding the topic of the necessity of building a next-generation ice-breaking research ship and a plan for joint utilization. He emphasized that arctic scientific research is directly related to the enhancement of national prestige and national interest and that the expansion of “next-generation ice-breaking research ships” is an “essential condition” for advancing into high latitudes.
In the special lecture’s last session, Professor Jeong Hwan Kim of Dong-A University’s Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering explained the concept of the digital twin and the digital twin technology of the ships in an ice-covered sea regarding the topic, “Digital Twin of Ships in Ice-Covered Sea.” He also explained in detail the Simulator for Arctic Marine Structures (SAMS) developed by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Norway.
In the general session held after the special session, eight research papers were presented in the fields of polar policy and polar engineering. It provided opportunities for active exchanges of technology and information while the members of the research group were participating.
2. Steering Committee Meeting
As the social distancing levels (Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Level 1.5 in nonmetropolitan areas) were maintained amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the chairman decided that the 14th Steering Committee meeting was to be held face-to-face during the two-day joint academic symposium of KAOSTS at Songdo Convensia in Incheon on May 13–14 (Thursday to Friday). For your information, the appointment of new Steering Committee members and the schedule and location of the summer research presentation session will be discussed at the next Steering Committee meeting, and the matters regarding the progress of current polar-related planned projects will be shared.