A marine think tank will study how to prevent crashes between high-speed passenger ferries going between the country and Japan and marine floating matter presumed to be whales.

The Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology will conduct a four-month study from next month at the request of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry.

The study will focus on maritime conditions for the navigation routes of high-speed ferries and the development of devices to detect floating matter such as whales.

Crashes involving ferries and unidentified matter have occurred six times over the past two years on a route linking Busan and Hakada, Japan.

The ministry from next month will hold a working-level meeting with officials from Japan's Land Infrastructure and Transport Ministry to devise joint safety measures.