South Korea and China have agreed to share maritime data to boost cooperation in tracking ships and facilitating search and rescue efforts during maritime contingencies.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs in Seoul says the two countries reached the agreement in a meeting of senior maritime officials in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Wednesday.

Starting in the second half of this year, the agreement will allow the two countries to track ships in their waters in real time and conduct swift and detailed operations to search for and rescue shipwrecked crew members.

The two countries also agreed to enhance maritime safety by carrying out special quarterly inspections on passenger ships. Those ships not meeting jointly set safety standards will be banned from leaving port.