Maritime Safety · AI Research
Understanding the maritime world. Building its future.
Three decades of maritime safety, VTS and IMO experience, now building the AI and data tools for maritime risk intelligence.
- Years in Maritime Education & Research
- 25+
- Years in Maritime Education & Research
- Maritime Safety & Environment
- Ph.D.
- Maritime Safety & Environment
- National R&D & Government Studies
- 50+
- National R&D & Government Studies
- IMO Advisor Since
- 2005
- IMO Advisor Since
A different kind of maritime platform
Most maritime information is scattered across regulations, reports, academic papers and fragmented databases. This platform brings research, safety information, technology trends and professional insight into one place.
Knowledge
Research, regulations, trends and practical maritime insight.
Intelligence
Data, analysis, risk assessment and emerging technology.
Connection
People, careers, research and international collaboration.
Recent milestones
2025.12 · VTS
Led the IALA VTS English Communication Competency Testing Guideline
Worked with the Korea Coast Guard to establish IALA's international guideline for assessing VTS operators' spoken English, the first such standard built on AI-based testing.
2025.10 · MASS & AI
Published on MASS training and regulatory readiness
Co-authored 'Risk Management Challenges in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASSs): Training and Regulatory Readiness' in MDPI Applied Sciences (SCIE).
2025.10 · Arctic Route
Joined the Arctic-route simulator training committee
Appointed to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries committee introducing ship-handling simulators for Arctic-route operator training.
2026.01 · Academic Activity
Elected Vice President, Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research
Serves as Vice President of Korea's principal academic society for navigation and port research, and as editor (Chair, Education Policy Committee) of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety.
National Workforce Development
Built and ran the Ocean Polytech mariner-training program and the Maritime High School 2+1 track, and contributed to four training-vessel renewals and the establishment of KIMFT's Ocean Plant Center and its Mokpo branch campus.
International Cooperation
IMO Assembly, Council and Sub-committee advisor since 2005; IALA advisor since 2011; government shipping-talks advisor to Mongolia, Russia, Norway and Denmark.
VTS Field Development
Built Korea's VTS international certification curriculum, authored the VTS White Paper, exported VTS training to Algeria, led the world's first AI-based international VTS English assessment standard, and authored the NCS training textbook.
Safety Education & Research
Responsible professor for passenger-ship safety training since 2001; built Korea's first LNG-carrier, ECDIS and ISPS training curricula; 50+ national R&D studies on maritime safety.
See maritime risk differently
The next stage of this platform: data and tools that turn accident records, traffic patterns and environmental factors into usable maritime risk intelligence. Shown here as concepts and works in progress, not finished commercial systems.
Dr. UK Model
A maritime risk and safety assessment framework combining accident data, vessel traffic, and environmental and spatial factors.
Maritime Safety Map
A geographic view of accident patterns, risk factors and traffic conditions across Korean waters.
Risk Assessment Demo
A decision-support concept for evaluating route and vessel-specific maritime risk.
Ship Traffic Intelligence
Visualizing vessel movement and traffic patterns drawn from research on VTS and autonomous navigation.
Dr. UK Model
A new approach to maritime risk intelligence
A developing framework that combines maritime accident data, vessel traffic, and environmental and spatial factors to support better maritime safety decisions.
Researching the future of maritime operations
Fifty-plus national R&D and government-commissioned studies since 2010, spanning autonomous ships, VTS and maritime safety systems.
Autonomous Ships & MASS
AI navigation control, collision-avoidance evaluation and human-element research for autonomous surface ships.
VTS & Maritime AI
Operator competency, AI-based English assessment, and next-generation traffic-management platforms.
Maritime Safety Systems
Accident-prevention frameworks and quantitative safety indices built on national accident and traffic data.
IMO & Maritime Policy
Regulatory readiness and international coordination for emerging maritime technologies.
Research on Building a Safety Education Culture System for Shipping Companies and Workplaces
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries · Co-Researcher
Remote-Controllable Maritime Firefighting System Using Autonomous Ship Technology
KIET · Principal Researcher
MASS Technology Development Research, Phase 2 (Shipping Sector 7)
KIMST-KMI · Principal Researcher
Cloud-Based Next-Generation VTS Integration Platform
KIMST · Co-Researcher
Source Technology Development of AI System for Autonomous Ship Navigation Control
KEIT · Principal Researcher
VTS White Paper: Twenty Years of Vessel Traffic Services in Korea
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries · Principal Researcher
Global Maritime Trends
Curated updates from IMO, IALA and the wider industry, spanning maritime safety, autonomous ships, cybersecurity, green shipping and e-Navigation. Each card links to its primary source.
IMO Net-Zero Framework talks to resume in late 2026
The IMO Net-Zero Framework, approved at MEPC 83 in April 2025, was not adopted at the extraordinary session after member states failed to reach consensus. Built around a global fuel standard and an emissions-trading mechanism, the reconvened session is expected around October 2026.
The alternative-fuel race: LNG leads as methanol and ammonia close in
As of 2026, LNG-fuelled ships lead with 600+ vessels in operation and 1,300+ on order, capturing roughly two-thirds of new alternative-fuel orders. Methanol is growing fast in container and car-carrier segments, while ammonia projects are multiplying despite toxicity and corrosion challenges. Nuclear propulsion remains a long-term prospect, held back by regulatory gaps.
IMO adopts the world's first Code for autonomous ships
MSC 111 adopted the non-mandatory international MASS Code for cargo ships, which entered into force on 1 July 2026. It embeds risk assessment into the approval process and sets out interaction with Remote Operation Centres, while preserving the master's responsibility to intervene even without crew aboard. A mandatory Code is targeted after an Experience-Building Phase, from 2032.
IALA accelerates e-Navigation's shift to the S-100 standard
IALA's e-Bulletin highlighted the final MaDaMe project seminar on transitioning to the S-100 digital chart and navigation-data framework, alongside the significance of the next-generation S-200 product specifications, underscoring the industry's push toward a fully digital navigation ecosystem.
Areas of expertise
Maritime Safety
Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
Autonomous Ships / MASS
Maritime AI
IMO & Maritime Policy
Maritime Education & Training
Passenger Ship Safety
International Cooperation
Helping maritime people navigate their next move
Maritime careers do not end when a person leaves the ship. They evolve. Ocean Bridge is a knowledge and mentoring track for that transition.
VTS Career
How to enter, prepare for and grow in vessel traffic services.
Pilot Examination
General information and learning guidance for the maritime pilot exam.
Seafarer to Shore Career
Career transition and professional development for seafarers moving ashore.
Mentoring
Guidance, connections and professional direction for the next generation.
Have a maritime challenge?
Research. Safety. AI. Data. Training. International cooperation.
Research Collaboration
Joint research and project development in maritime safety, AI and autonomous ships.
Maritime Safety Consulting
Safety analysis, risk assessment and advisory work for fleets, ports and regulators.
AI & Autonomous Ships
Technology, research and development collaboration on MASS and navigation AI.
Data & Intelligence
Maritime data analysis, visualization and safety-index development.
Education & Training
VTS, ECDIS, passenger-ship and professional competency development programs.
International Cooperation
International projects, research and knowledge exchange with IMO, IALA and partner states.
With Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at the 13th International VTS Symposium, Kuala Lumpur, 2016.
Unkyu Jang
Professor, Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology
Show evidence, not adjectives
Ph.D., Maritime Safety & Environment, Korea Maritime and Ocean University. Master Mariner (Deck Officer, Class 1). IMO and IALA advisor since 2005 and 2011 respectively.
Commendation, Minister of Public Safety and Security
Contribution to Korea Coast Guard operations
Commendation, Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs
Citation, Commissioner General of the Korea Coast Guard
Excellence in Activity Award & Excellence in Presentation Award
Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research
Excellence in Research Paper Award
Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research
Knowledge you can use
Books, papers and patents from three decades of maritime safety and VTS research.
Books
VTS White Paper (1993 - 2012): Twenty Years of Vessel Traffic Services in Korea
2012
Traffic Management
2015
IALA VTS Manual (Korean-English bilingual edition)
2016
Papers
Risk Management Challenges in Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASSs): Training and Regulatory Readiness
MDPI Applied Sciences, 2025
A Development of Chatbot Framework for Ship Safety Education Based on Actual Communication Data between Port Control Center and Ship
ICIC Express Letters, Part B: Applications, Vol. 9, 2018
VTS Simulator-Based Job Competency Analysis of VTS Operators
Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Police Science, 2017
Analysis of VTS Operators' Situation Awareness Based on Field Observation and Self-Report Methods
Journal of Navigation and Port Research, 2016
Patents
Simplified Electronic Navigational Chart Production Method for Automatic Ship Tracking Systems Using Internationally Certified ENC
Registered, 2006
Aptitude Test System for Navigation Officers
Filed, 2018
What can we build together?
Career advice, research collaboration, a project, a speaker for your event, or something else entirely. Start with whichever fits.