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As Taiwan’s competent authority for maritime administration and oversight, the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has committed itself to cultivating a culture of integrity and quality governance rooted in maritime safety and promoting integrity awareness among all personnel. This year, the MPB represented the MOTC to participate in the evaluation process for the 3rd Integrity Awards. On the 19th, Deputy Minister of Justice Hsi-hsiang Hsu, accompanied by members of the evaluation committee, conducted an on-site assessment at the MPB. Director-General Hsieh-lung Yeh personally attended the session, delivered a presentation, and guided the committee through the MPB’s integrity governance achievements. The MOTC attached considerable importance to this evaluation, with Deputy Minister Yen-po Chen and Director of the Commissioner of Government Ethics Yung-fu Wang attending the event.

Deputy Minister Chen expressed his affirmation of the MPB’s participation and preparation, recognizing its information disclosure measures and integrity governance policies. He emphasized that the MOTC will continue promoting clean governance practices to establish a high-quality, secure civil service environment in which personnel uphold integrity, comply with the law, and demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility.

Deputy Minister Hsu of the Ministry of Justice noted that, since 2023, the Integrity Awards have served as the nation’s first awards dedicated to recognizing integrity performance in public agencies. The awards aim to institutionalize incentives to promote the core values of transparent and ethical governance.

During his presentation, Director-General Yeh underscored that, in an era of artificial intelligence (AI), the MPB has proactively incorporated cutting-edge technologies into maritime oversight operations. For instance, the intelligent vessel inspection and control system now enables the public to submit applications electronically, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. This system employs AI-based image recognition to support inspectors in vessel examinations. In addition, yacht and powered small craft license examinations have transitioned from traditional paper-based formats to computer-based testing, reducing the potential for human interference.

When presenting the MPB’s integrity initiatives, Director-General Yeh highlighted the maritime single window service platform, MTNet, which consolidates information on maritime affairs, port operations, vessels, and maritime professionals. MTNet is interfaced with the databases of thirteen government agencies to enable information sharing and enhance public transparency, thereby reducing opportunities for human interference or corruption arising from information asymmetry. The MTNet development experience and operational functions were shared at the 2024 APEC conference, earning recognition and affirmation from multiple countries. Furthermore, the IMARINE cross-agency data integration system consolidates, cleanses, and interfaces data from the Customs Administration, Taiwan International Port Corporations, and the government open data platform DATA.GOV.TW, embodying the principles of open government. Data generated by the maritime monitoring system form the foundation for port state control inspections; beyond preventing malfeasance, the system facilitates surveillance of vessels that may pose safety risks, mitigating grey-zone threats and safeguarding national security.

Beyond the aforementioned technological initiatives promoting integrity, the MPB has implemented a range of additional integrity-enhancing measures. These include establishing a transparent maritime oversight portal to strengthen public supervision; identifying institutional risks and applying the Three Lines of Defense model to reinforce internal control; conducting regular review and rotation of personnel in risk-prone positions; providing guidance for the restoration of illegally modified fishing vessels to foster a law-abiding civic culture and reduce corruption risks; and promoting broad-based public engagement initiatives that facilitate public–private collaboration and participatory governance. Under the leadership of Director-General Yeh, the MPB has comprehensively demonstrated its commitment to integrity and transparency.

Integrity is the core value of governance, and information transparency is essential for safeguarding the public’s right to know. Through its participation in the Integrity Awards, the MPB has once again conducted a thorough review of its mechanisms for promoting integrity, transparency, and risk prevention. These efforts aim to ensure greater institutional efficiency and operational transparency. Integrity and honesty must evolve from individual compliance to internalized values that are transferable and scalable across the organization. Under Director-General Yeh’s leadership, all members of the MPB continue to pursue the vision of an internationally aligned, human-centered maritime administration, delivering maritime transport services that are both efficient and ethically grounded.

Contact Person: Kun Li, Section Chief, Civil Service Ethics Office

Contact Number: 02-89782892