○ The Incheon Port Authority (IPA, President Lee Kyung-Gyu) won first place in the Infrastructure Category at the IAPH 2025 Sustainability Awards, presented during the IAPH World Ports Conference on October 8 in Kobe, Japan.

○ IPA’s award-winning project, “ICT-Based Smart Maintenance Technology for Port Infrastructure*,” was highly acclaimed for simultaneously enhancing the safety and environmental performance of aging port facilities while ensuring sustainable long-term port operations through the integration of advanced ICT technologies.

* The project employs underwater and surface drones to diagnose the condition of port structures in real-time and predict potential risk factors in advance.

○ A total of 112 projects from ports worldwide competed this year. Winners were determined through a combined evaluation comprising expert jury assessments (70%) and online public voting (30%). IPA was shortlisted in the Infrastructure Category alongside the Port of Kitakyushu (Japan) and the Port of Seattle (U.S.), ultimately securing first place with the highest number of online votes.

○ President Lee Kyung-Gyu remarked, “This award is the result of collective efforts of the IPA, the local community, academia, research institutions, and our business partners.” He further stated, “We will continue to lead the way in enhancing global competitiveness by addressing the climate crisis and accelerating the shift toward environmentally friendly and smart port infrastructure.”

○ Building on this success, the IPA intends to further develop its port infrastructure safety management systems, increase investment in eco-friendly facilities, improve operational efficiency through the adoption of smart technologies, and foster greater joint research and cooperation with the international community.

○ The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), founded in 1955, is the world’s largest international organization representing port authorities and related stakeholders, with approximately 340 ports and port-related organizations from over 90 countries as members. It serves as an official advisory body to five United Nations specialized agencies and one intergovernmental organization. Since 2018, the IAPH has held the Sustainability Awards annually to promote the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the port sector, selecting first-place winners in six key categories, including ▷ Climate and Energy, ▷ Digitalization, ▷ Environmental Care, ▷ Infrastructure, ▷ Community Building, and ▷ Health, Safety and Security.