On most of my trips to Korea to interview the top management at major shipyards for TradeWinds’ business focus reviews, companies have provided transport to their sometimes out-of the-way facilities.

But a flood of vessel orders ahead of my most recent visit meant staff were extra-busy, and I had to make my own way to Hyundai Mipo in Ulsan, and Sungdong Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering near Tongyeong, both on the southeast coast.