Busan: The boss of the Korean Register has vowed to get his firm up the ranks of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
Park Bum-shik, who took on the role of chairman of KR last December, tells Maritime CEO that KR currently lies in seventh place among the 12 members of IACS, but under his stewardship he wants to take KR higher. KR currently has 64m tons on its books – about 300 ships. The aim by 2020 is to break through the 100m ton mark, Park says.
As well as growing the commercial ship side of the business Park is keen to diversify. “We also want to specialize in navy warships, submarines and renewable energy,” Park says.
Park was drafted in to KR last December after the previous chairman of KR resigned in the wake of the tragic Sewol ferry disaster. Park has 38 years in maritime – working for Pan Ocean and then the Korea P&I Club prior to his KR appointment.
