ID :
22177
Wed, 10/01/2008 - 20:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22177
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean shipyards have lax technology security control: report
BUSAN, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shipyards' security regimes are relatively lax, a concern as vital technology may be targeted for theft, a joint government report said Wednesday.
The report compiled by experts in the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and National
Intelligence Service showed local shipbuilders getting an average 3.71 points out
of a possible 5 points in terms of security control.
The two government bodies, which conducted on-site inspections, screening of
operational procedures and interviews with related personnel from April through
July, said the industry as a whole is not overly conscious of existing security
risks. A total of 38 yards were examined, although their names were not released.
South Korea is the world's largest builder of commercial ships, having the five
largest yards in the world. Some foreign companies have resorted to industrial
espionage to learn key know-how.
The latest findings said numbers for other technology-sensitive industries, such
as steel and nuclear energy, were rated higher at 4.51 and 4.12 points,
respectively.
The findings released at a meeting of the Korea Shipbuilders' Association in
Busan then said that the need to give pertinent technical information to
companies that place orders may be contributing to weak security regimes.
Others reasons cited for lax security were the impracticality of effectively
monitoring vast yards, where both company employees and contract workers hired by
shipping companies and components suppliers must work together.
"There is a need to protect vital technology from theft that can hurt
competitiveness," a ministry official said. He added that the government and the
industry need to coordinate security measures to screen the official export of
technology to make certain that certain information does not reach the
competition.
Besides shipbuilding, telecommunications and aerospace areas received low marks,
while automobile companies got marks similar to those of shipyards.
The report compiled by experts in the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and National
Intelligence Service showed local shipbuilders getting an average 3.71 points out
of a possible 5 points in terms of security control.
The two government bodies, which conducted on-site inspections, screening of
operational procedures and interviews with related personnel from April through
July, said the industry as a whole is not overly conscious of existing security
risks. A total of 38 yards were examined, although their names were not released.
South Korea is the world's largest builder of commercial ships, having the five
largest yards in the world. Some foreign companies have resorted to industrial
espionage to learn key know-how.
The latest findings said numbers for other technology-sensitive industries, such
as steel and nuclear energy, were rated higher at 4.51 and 4.12 points,
respectively.
The findings released at a meeting of the Korea Shipbuilders' Association in
Busan then said that the need to give pertinent technical information to
companies that place orders may be contributing to weak security regimes.
Others reasons cited for lax security were the impracticality of effectively
monitoring vast yards, where both company employees and contract workers hired by
shipping companies and components suppliers must work together.
"There is a need to protect vital technology from theft that can hurt
competitiveness," a ministry official said. He added that the government and the
industry need to coordinate security measures to screen the official export of
technology to make certain that certain information does not reach the
competition.
Besides shipbuilding, telecommunications and aerospace areas received low marks,
while automobile companies got marks similar to those of shipyards.
