The Maritime Port Bureau (MPB) announced on January 9 that it has achieved four of its major 2023 goals, namely optimizing offshore island transportation, improving smart navigation safety, promoting marine tourism, and optimizing harbor systems. Extraordinary outcomes achieved by the MPB included the acquisition of the New Taima Ferry and Penghu Ferry; swift response and shipping support during the interruption of the Suhua Highway or the grounding of flights at Kinmen and Matsu due to thick fog; and resumption of the Mini-Three Links project. The MPB also launched a direct route between Suao and Yonaguni, Japan, to promote tourism and conduct legislative diplomacy. Other achievements included deployment of radar at Taichung and Yunlin, completion of the largest maritime disaster drill in recent years, and establishment of the blue highways brand Taiwan Hi. The MPB also implemented three major systems, namely the yacht captain immediate test and assessment system, the iMarine Maritime and Port Development Database, and the Taiwan Yacht Portal (YaPo). In 2024, the MPB will work diligently to maintain its excellence in maritime affairs, provide dedicated services, and actively advance projects aligned with its four core objectives of enhancing navigation safety, facilitating sustainable development of shipping industries, building a marine tourism environment, and promoting equal rights for offshore island transportation.

MPB Director General Hsieh-Lung Yeh reviewed the major achievements of the MPB in 2023. The MPB has optimized offshore island transportation by acquiring New Taima Ferry and Penghu Ferry in a timely manner. The new ferries, which replaced the 30-year-old Taima and Taihua Ferries, have greatly improved the quality of offshore island transportation. The Penghu Ferry was bestowed the honor of the 2023 Taiwan Design Best 100 award for its aesthetic appearance, excellent services, and outstanding interior space. The MPB improved smart navigation safety by deploying radar at Taichung and Yunlin. Furthermore, Cospas-Sarsat officially declared that the medium earth orbit satellite of Taiwan entered full operating capability on January 12, 2023, making Taiwan the first East Asian country to be validated by the North West Pacific Data Distribution Region. The MPB also helped Taiwan secure its place in the Whitelist of Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding for the sixth consecutive year, receiving international recognition for its maritime supervision prowess. The MPB completed the largest maritime disaster drill at Taipei Port in recent years, and its Maritime Mobilization Preparation Program received an award from the Executive Yuan for its outstanding performance in mobilization preparation programs. The MPB promoted marine tourism by cooperating with the Tourism Administration and the Taiwan International Ports Corporation to launch a direct route between Suao and Yonaguni, Japan. Legislative Yuan President Yu led governmental and industrial representatives to complete the inaugural route with Japanese representatives and promoted tourism. The MPB also promoted the blue highways brand Taiwan Hi to establish an image of high quality, excellence, and comfort for the brand. The MPB revitalized the Kaohsiung Lighthouse, which was designated as a top ten attraction and facility by the Tourism Administration in 2023. The Keelung Lighthouse is due to open to the public on January 10, becoming the 22nd lighthouse open to the public. The MPB also organized the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Resilience and Sustainable Cruise Industry Forum, which successfully secured APEC funding and marks Taiwan’s first participation in an APEC Maritime Experts Group (MEG). The MPB optimized harbor systems by activating the yacht and motorboat captain immediate test and assessment, which will improve the efficiency of tests and enable members of the public to take tests. The MPB also launched the iMarine harbor development database to diversify the application of abundant harbor data and provide real-time shipping information. The MPB completed the YaPo, a one-stop service that integrates four functions, namely yacht departure and arrival, yacht docking application, yacht departure notification, and yacht tourism information. The YaPo will facilitate the vibrant development of the yacht industry.

Director General Yeh also stated the four major goals of the MPB in 2024. To enhance navigation safety, the MPB will construct vessel traffic service buildings for wind farm channels, activate the smart navigation safety upgrade program, and build Maritime One, a smart vessel with navigation safety monitoring features. The MPB will also update vessel smart monitoring systems, improve the efficiency of vessel service inspections, enhance the cloud system of passenger lists to protect the rights of passengers, and prepare drills for cruise, ferry, and wind farm disasters to improve disaster response capabilities. To facilitate the sustainable development of shipping industries, the MPB will plan and promote industrial upgrade projects for shipping industries to create a comprehensive maritime industry in Taiwan. Shipping companies have acquired dual fuel vessels because the International Maritime Organization has proposed the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The MPB will train maritime personnel to use new energy sources and promote smart training and an upgrade program for maritime personnel to respond to the digital development of the international maritime industry. To promote marine tourism, the MPB will actively promote the development of archipelago cruises and connect Asian cruise routes. The MPB will host the Asian Archipelago Cruise Alliance (AACA) promotion ceremony on January 22, 2024, and invite representatives from the governments of Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines and seven international cruise operators to connect Asian countries to offer cruise tours that visit Asian islands. In April 2024, Kaomei Lighthouse will provide accommodations during the tomb sweeping festival. Kaomei Lighthouse is the first lighthouse to offer accommodations in Taiwan and will provide innovative tourism experiences to tourists. The MPB will also help local governments promote yacht docking projects and expects to complete projects in eight areas and construction in four areas. Finally, as the Keelung military port moves west, the MPB will actively promote the revitalization and development of Weihai Naval Base and create a new marine gateway. To facilitate equal rights for offshore island transportation, the MPB will expand several facilities, such as the Kinmen Shuitou Commercial Port Passenger Service Center, the Pingtung Yanpu Bus Center, the floating piers at Penghu and Budai, Wharf 1 of Magong Harbor, and the Mengao Wharf Passenger Waiting Room. The MPB will also subsidize the acquisition of ferries for offshore island transportation. In 2024, the MPB will gradually eliminate old vessels along eastern Taiwan and acquire two new ferries. The MPB will also construct Baisha Star 2 and help Penghu County Government plan for Nanhai Star 3.

Director General Yeh further emphasized that as the maritime authority of Taiwan, the MPB has the mission and duty to align with international standards and ensure navigation safety, facilitate sustainable development of shipping industries, ensure equal rights for offshore island transportation, and promote marine tourism. The MPB will continue to use creativity and technology to improve maritime affairs, take advantage of team work, and complete each project professionally and in a timely manner to achieve the vision of people-oriented harbors, smooth maritime transportation, excellent marine environment, and sustainable shipping.

Contact: Section Chief Chi-Pei Chen, Planning Division

Telephone: 02-89786842