Kuan Bi-ling Inspects Two Major Projects of Maritime Affairs Council, Hopes to Strengthen National Defense and Drive Industry
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Kuan Bi-ling inspected two major projects in Kaohsiung: a joint office building and a national ship model laboratory. These aim to strengthen national defense, develop the marine technology industry, and enhance national capabilities.
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- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 17:16
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 17:31 (15 min after Published)
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Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Kuan Bi-ling visited the construction sites of the joint office building and the national ship model laboratory in Kaohsiung. The office building is designed as a national hub for maritime governance and is the country's first 'near-zero carbon' building. The ship model laboratory is essential for national defense (indigenous shipbuilding) and marine R&D, aiming to improve domestic testing capabilities and reduce risks of confidential information leakage. Both projects are expected to boost the development of the marine technology industry chain in Kaohsiung.
Kuan Bi-ling first visited the joint office building construction site near Kaohsiung's Zhongdu Wetland Park to understand the progress and quality of construction. She stated that with maritime affairs previously dispersed among 22 agencies, the establishment of the Maritime Affairs Council and the construction of this joint office building symbolize a dedicated center for maritime policy.
Kuan Bi-ling noted that the office building, a seven-story structure with two underground levels, is currently undergoing exterior wall and interior finishing. It is scheduled for completion and activation in 2038 (Year 117 of the Republic of China calendar), at which time it will become a vital hub for national maritime governance and the nation's first central government office building with a 'near-zero carbon footprint'.
She mentioned that the construction faced challenges during excavation and rising material costs, but the engineering team maintained high-quality construction. The project plans to achieve a 'Level 1+ energy efficiency' rating, obtain dual gold labels for green and smart buildings, and be equipped as an emergency shelter, serving as a node for emergency relief and material assembly.
According to a press release from the Maritime Affairs Council, Kuan Bi-ling emphasized the need for the building's environment to coexist sustainably with nature. Despite challenges, she stressed the importance of implementing industrial safety and environmental protection, hoping it will become a model for promoting net-zero transition.
Subsequently, Kuan Bi-ling proceeded to Xingda Port to inspect the national ship model laboratory, stressing that this is a 'construction that must be carried out regardless of difficulties' for national security.
Kuan Bi-ling pointed out that over 99% of Taiwan's imported and exported trade cargo relies on maritime transport, and the shipbuilding industry is a key industry for Taiwan. However, the country previously lacked testing spaces like 'sea-keeping performance tanks' and 'rotating arm tanks.' Consequently, when developing new vessels such as warships, coast guard ships, and submarines, ship models had to be sent abroad for testing.
Kuan Bi-ling stated that this process not only faced issues with scheduling and high costs but also posed cybersecurity risks, such as the leakage of classified defense data related to hull lines. She added that considering the overall economic and social benefits of national defense autonomy, localization of the shipbuilding industry, and ensuring national security, the government firmly supported this crucial national construction project.
Kuan Bi-ling further explained that Taiwan had no prior experience with operating such high-tech water tanks. The National Oceanic Research Institute selected its first batch of seed instructors to undergo training in the United Kingdom to localize key core technologies.
Additionally, with the passage of the "Act Governing the Establishment of the National Marine Science and Technology Operations Center," the national ship model laboratory will be operated in an enterprise-like, flexible manner through an administrative corporation, aiming to implement indigenous shipbuilding and achieve autonomy in marine scientific research.
Kuan Bi-ling remarked that selecting Kaohsiung for these two major projects aligns with the policies of balanced development between north and south and easing pressure on the capital. She expressed hope that this will lay a crucial foundation for Taiwan to become a technologically advanced, intelligent, and sustainable maritime nation. (Edited by: Chang Ya-ching) 20260420
Kuan Bi-ling first visited the joint office building construction site near Kaohsiung's Zhongdu Wetland Park to understand the progress and quality of construction. She stated that with maritime affairs previously dispersed among 22 agencies, the establishment of the Maritime Affairs Council and the construction of this joint office building symbolize a dedicated center for maritime policy.
Kuan Bi-ling noted that the office building, a seven-story structure with two underground levels, is currently undergoing exterior wall and interior finishing. It is scheduled for completion and activation in 2038 (Year 117 of the Republic of China calendar), at which time it will become a vital hub for national maritime governance and the nation's first central government office building with a 'near-zero carbon footprint'.
She mentioned that the construction faced challenges during excavation and rising material costs, but the engineering team maintained high-quality construction. The project plans to achieve a 'Level 1+ energy efficiency' rating, obtain dual gold labels for green and smart buildings, and be equipped as an emergency shelter, serving as a node for emergency relief and material assembly.
According to a press release from the Maritime Affairs Council, Kuan Bi-ling emphasized the need for the building's environment to coexist sustainably with nature. Despite challenges, she stressed the importance of implementing industrial safety and environmental protection, hoping it will become a model for promoting net-zero transition.
Subsequently, Kuan Bi-ling proceeded to Xingda Port to inspect the national ship model laboratory, stressing that this is a 'construction that must be carried out regardless of difficulties' for national security.
Kuan Bi-ling pointed out that over 99% of Taiwan's imported and exported trade cargo relies on maritime transport, and the shipbuilding industry is a key industry for Taiwan. However, the country previously lacked testing spaces like 'sea-keeping performance tanks' and 'rotating arm tanks.' Consequently, when developing new vessels such as warships, coast guard ships, and submarines, ship models had to be sent abroad for testing.
Kuan Bi-ling stated that this process not only faced issues with scheduling and high costs but also posed cybersecurity risks, such as the leakage of classified defense data related to hull lines. She added that considering the overall economic and social benefits of national defense autonomy, localization of the shipbuilding industry, and ensuring national security, the government firmly supported this crucial national construction project.
Kuan Bi-ling further explained that Taiwan had no prior experience with operating such high-tech water tanks. The National Oceanic Research Institute selected its first batch of seed instructors to undergo training in the United Kingdom to localize key core technologies.
Additionally, with the passage of the "Act Governing the Establishment of the National Marine Science and Technology Operations Center," the national ship model laboratory will be operated in an enterprise-like, flexible manner through an administrative corporation, aiming to implement indigenous shipbuilding and achieve autonomy in marine scientific research.
Kuan Bi-ling remarked that selecting Kaohsiung for these two major projects aligns with the policies of balanced development between north and south and easing pressure on the capital. She expressed hope that this will lay a crucial foundation for Taiwan to become a technologically advanced, intelligent, and sustainable maritime nation. (Edited by: Chang Ya-ching) 20260420