South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) has lifted the suspension on work activities in Incheon South Port’s Incheon Container Terminal, after being satisfied that measures have been implemented to improve work safety.
Work in the terminal, including the loading and unloading of containers, was suspended after a worker was hit and killed by a trailer truck on 12 February.
While operations were suspended, containers brought into Incheon Container Terminal could not be loaded on ships. While vessels could be diverted to other terminals within Incheon, containers that were awaiting loading in Incheon Container Terminal could not be handled, as the stop-work order included the movement of containers in the terminal.
Incheon Port Authority estimated that 15,780 20ft containers were affected, prompting complaints from shippers. The port is a gateway into the Seoul metropolitan area and processes over 3.2 million TEU annually.
As the complaints increased, Incheon Oceans and Fisheries Administration asked MOEL for permission to move containers already in Incheon Container Terminal to other terminals within the port. On 16 February, MOEL allowed the transfer of the affected containers to other Incheon terminals.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
