Korean Research Vessel ISABU at Colombo Port

A large and high-tech ocean Research Vessel of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), ISABU, arrived at the Port of Colombo as its first port of call on 16 August to strengthen maritime cooperation between South Korea and Sri Lanka. 

The vessel of about 6,000 tonnes deadweight (DWT) class, which is conducting research on the environmental systematic of seafloor hydrothermal vents and associated vent ecosystems in the Central Indian Ridge, departed from the port on 19 August for further research in the Indian Ocean.  On the first day of the visit, the research group of the KIOST hosted an onboard dinner for Chairman Dr. Anil Premaratne and senior researchers of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). The next day, the research group was invited to the NARA to further discuss cooperative projects between the two sides. 

Meanwhile, the KIOST and the NARA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2016 and jointly made a Project Concept Paper (PCP) to strengthen capacity building in Ocean Science. Close cooperation between the two parties is expected to strengthen further in the years to come.

Apart from this, the South Korean Government is implementing various Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in the maritime sector in cooperation with its Sri Lankan counterpart, including the establishment project of the Ocean University of Sri Lanka, which has received funds of $ 50 million and $ 2.5 million from the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) respectively.