A state-run think tank on oceanography is set to begin observing ocean currents of the East Sea from Tuesday in a bid to draw up an ocean current chart.

The National Oceanographic Research Institute announced Saturday that it had decided to produce an ocean current chart based on updated information, citing that the currently used chart, drawn up in the 1930s by the Japanese, is outdated.

A 2,500-ton maritime research vessel will be mobilized in the observation process.

The research institute plans to publish the updated chart around 2009.