The South Korean government announced its decision to exempt AI-driven autonomous vessel projects from the pre-feasibility study phase, aiming to reduce procedural hurdles and accelerate the implementation of AI autonomous vessel projects.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, this exemption will accelerate the development of South Korea’s core technologies. The nation aims to build Level 4 autonomous vessels by 2032. The exemption allows the autonomous vessel project to bypass the conventional pre-feasibility assessment phase before launch, thereby avoiding delays in development efficiency caused by time-consuming evaluation procedures.
Level 4 autonomous navigation signifies that a vessel possesses full autonomous sailing capability, enabling it to independently make decisions and execute navigation plans through artificial intelligence perception and control systems. Such vessels are regarded as the next generation of vessels poised to reshape the future of the shipping and shipbuilding industries.
Specifically, this government initiative aims to pioneer the development of unmanned navigation and automated ship engineering technologies for fully autonomous vessels before the International Maritime Organization establishes relevant international standards in 2032.
Minister Kim Jung-kwan of South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated: “South Korea possesses top-tier shipbuilding and artificial intelligence technologies, enabling it to lead the world in the field of autonomous vessels.”
With the International Maritime Organization setting a timeline for establishing international standards for autonomous ships by 2032, the South Korean government has elevated autonomous shipping to a national strategic priority. In the first half of 2024, the government and relevant enterprises jointly developed a “Shipbuilding Industry R&D Roadmap” to lead the formulation of international standards for autonomous vessels.
In February this year, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the country will invest approximately 260 billion won this year to develop cutting-edge shipbuilding technologies. Of this amount, 20 billion won will be allocated to developing autonomous vessel technologies, specifically supporting R&D in core technologies such as unmanned navigation and AI control systems.
South Korea’s three major shipbuilders have achieved multiple breakthroughs in key autonomous navigation technologies.
In September 2024, the HiNAS Control navigation technology developed by Avikus, an autonomous navigation solutions company under HD Hyundai Group, received DNV certification. This marks the “world’s first” certified autonomous vessel system, which has also secured orders for installation on actual vessels. The technology’s core functions include autonomous collision avoidance and route optimization, which are said to help reduce navigator fatigue while minimizing maritime accidents and emissions.
Samsung Heavy Industries’ autonomous research vessel “Shift Auto” was launched in November 2024. Featuring a catamaran hull design to minimize roll motion, the vessel is equipped with an in-house developed navigation system enabling fully unmanned operations throughout the entire process of docking, navigation and mooring. Additionally, in October 2024, Mokpo National Maritime University’s training vessel “Segae Ro” completed a 2,800-kilometer verification voyage to the Philippines, marking a significant step forward in the commercial development of Samsung Heavy Industries’ autonomous navigation system.
Hanwha Ocean has also made significant investments in Level 4 autonomous vessels, setting a goal to achieve Level 4 intelligent autonomous vessels by 2030.