Shipbuilding industry was spreading … ‘streak’ coronavirus outbreak crisis

Check-in 2020.09.10 13:00

Amid growing expectations that the shipbuilding industry, which suffered the worst order difficulties in the first half of this year, will rebound after the second half, it is worth noting whether the reproliferation of Corona 19 will become a variable. . We are paying close attention to whether the mass infection started by Hyundai Heavy Industries will lead to sudden adverse events such as factory closure.

According to the shipbuilding industry on the 10th, the number of confirmed cases related to Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard increased to 10 on this day. Hyundai Heavy Industries closed the 7-story building where the confirmed workers worked the day before and performed diagnostic tests on the 2,000 workers who used it. For the remaining 128 people who did not receive the test, it was decided to complete the test within 10 days.

Meanwhile, the shipbuilding industry was not very concerned about the corona epidemic. Instead of worrying about the crown itself, it was very aware of changes in market conditions caused by the crown. It took at least two years to order and deliver the ship, so there were many optimistic observations about whether it would finish before then.

However, the industry is focusing on preventing the spread of COVID-19 as a result of the prolonged outbreak of coronavirus. This is because around 70% of the population in areas where shipyards such as Ulsan and Geoje are located are direct or indirect workers, so if a pandemic breaks out, in the worst case, there may be situations such as closure factory and the suspension of operations.

In fact, in Ulsan, workers working in the Construction Department of Hyundai Heavy Industries on the 6th tested positive and are spreading infections to the local community through their families. The two confirmed cases that occurred that day were colleagues from other workplaces cared for by the wife of a Hyundai Heavy Industries worker who was confirmed for the first time. Fortunately, all 1,893 Hyundai Heavy Industries employees, who had undergone diagnostic tests the day before, were all judged negatively, but health authorities and Hyundai Heavy Industries are not slowing down the local infection outbreak.

A shipbuilding industry official said: “Hyundai Heavy Industries and other shipbuilders have taken steps to prevent Corona 19 infection, such as requiring all employees to wear masks and controlling heat, and restricting business travel. There is no significant impact on the product, but if a confirmed case occurs at the production site, there may be a disruption in operation. “

Located in Geoje-si, Gyeongnam Samsung Heavy Industries (010140)and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (042660)In addition, we are focusing our efforts on quarantine activities in the event of a coronavirus outbreak. Samsung Heavy Industries is installing thermal imaging cameras at the entrance to the business site and checking for heat before work. Business travel is restricted and a mobile self-test is provided for all employees.

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering also continues its quarantine activities in accordance with reinforced government guidelines, focusing on the Corona 19 situation room. Recently, business trips to the metropolitan area and the Busan area were banned due to the reproliferation of the crown, and internal and external training was canceled or minimized. Quarantine prevention, such as restaurants and gyms, have been strengthened and excursions have been temporarily suspended.

However, it is said that there is anxiety about the high concentration in multipurpose facilities such as commuter buses and restaurants, since it is inevitable that contact during the operation is unavoidable since a small number of people, and up to dozens of people are meet on site. An employee of Hyundai Heavy Industries said: “It is a coronavirus company, but when I go to a restaurant, people are crowded and talk to each other.”

Another employee also said: “There is a possibility that the employee of the Ministry of Construction, who is identified as the first confirmed person (confirmation No. 115 in Ulsan), has also been captured internally.”