South Korea Revises Green Ship Certification Rules to Boost Uptake

South Korea is taking significant steps to enhance its eco-friendly ship certification system, aiming to boost the adoption of sustainable technologies in the maritime industry. Effective August 21, the updated regulations expand eligibility for certification to include both shipbuilders and shipowners, according to a statement from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The revisions also introduce flexibility in the certification process, allowing for final approvals despite design changes made after initial assessments.

New Standards and Incentives for Green Shipping

The revised certification standards align with internationally recognized measures, incorporating the ship energy efficiency index for vessels over 400 gross tons (GT) and the operational carbon intensity index for ships of 5,000 GT or more. This alignment with global norms is expected to make the certification process more practical for industry stakeholders. Since its launch in 2020, South Korea’s eco-friendly ship certification framework has graded ships on a scale of one to five based on their greenhouse gas reduction performance. As of July 2025, a total of 119 ships have received certification under this program.

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The South Korean government anticipates a surge in demand for eco-ship certification following these updates. To further encourage the adoption of green shipping solutions, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to continue offering financial incentives. These include acquisition tax reductions of up to 2 percentage points and construction fund support covering up to 30% of the ship’s price for eco-friendly certified vessels. “We will continue to promote government-level acquisition tax reductions and construction fund support to lead the way in reducing greenhouse gases in the shipping industry,” stated Choi Seong-yong, Director General of the Maritime Safety Bureau.