The government on Sunday said it will expand a task force to ensure there are no delays to the flow of cargo after the country's No. 1 container carrier Hanjin Shipping Co. went under court receivership.

On Friday, the world's seventh-largest shipper was put under receivership. A day earlier, it filed for court protection after its creditors, led by the state-run Korea Development Bank, rejected its self-restructuring plan.


Following the decision, the government set up a task force led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to deal with the aftermath.

On Sunday, the ministry said it decided to expand the governmentwide high-ranking task force with the participation of nine other related government ministries and agencies.

"The government plans to deal with this crisis so it does not lead to cargo chaos, which can affect exports, as well as impact the overall economy," Oceans and Fisheries Minister Kim Young-soek told reporters.

The new task force will work with related agencies to minimize the impact on ports and the shipping industry overall.

"The government asks related companies in the shipping and cargo industries to actively respond to the situation," said Kim, further calling on Hanjin Shipping to take full responsibility.

Hanjin Shipping earlier said 45 of its ships, including 41 container carriers, have been stranded at sea worldwide due to port entry denials in many countries.

The country's maritime ministry said it will work to smooth out the flow of cargo for local exporters and importers by allocating substitute ships in place of Hanjin's vessels that may be seized.

The ministry also said Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., the country's No. 2 shipper, plans to deploy 13 ships on Hanjin Shipping-operated routes.

Four Hyundai ships will replace Hanjin's American region fleet and nine other ships will be used on the European route, officials said.

Hyundai Merchant Marine, currently under a creditor-led debt restructuring scheme, may seek to take over Hanjin Shipping's healthy assets, such as port terminals and global business networks. (Yonhap)