Full-Scale Development of Autonomous Ships Begins... 160 Billion KRW Invested Over 6 Years

Launch of the Integrated Project Group for Autonomous Ship Technology Development

Conceptual Diagram of Autonomous Ship Technology Development.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 17th that they have launched the 'Integrated Project Group for Autonomous Ship Technology Development Project' and will officially begin the project. This project is a joint initiative by the two ministries, investing approximately 160 billion KRW over six years from this year until 2025 to commercialize autonomous ships.

Autonomous ships are next-generation high value-added vessels that integrate artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, sensors, and other technologies to support and replace crew decision-making through intelligent and autonomous systems.

The project aims to develop autonomous ships that meet Level 3 autonomy as defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for ocean navigation, which includes minimal crew onboard, remote control, and engine automation such as fault prediction and diagnosis. For coastal navigation, the goal is to develop autonomous ships that achieve Level 2 autonomy.

Through this project, the government plans to develop core technologies for autonomous ships, including intelligent navigation systems, engine automation systems, communication systems, and shore operation systems, and integrate and demonstrate them on vessels capable of international navigation to establish a commercialization foundation. A performance demonstration center for integrated performance verification of autonomous ships will be built in the Goneul district of Ulsan Metropolitan City. Furthermore, continuous achievements will be secured through phased demonstrations using a 25-meter test vessel and medium-sized commercial ships. Additionally, to strengthen international competitiveness and secure technological leadership, international standardization of the technologies developed through this project will be pursued simultaneously.

The integrated project group, established within the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, will be responsible for facilitating smooth cooperation between ministries. For tasks under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, such as automation platform development and demonstration, the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (affiliated with the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology) has been selected as the lead organization. For tasks under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, such as operation technology development and standardization, the Korean Register has been selected as the lead organization. The integrated project group will be formed accordingly. Alongside technology development, the group plans to select an operator for the demonstration vessel within this year, sign a business agreement for construction and demonstration, and coordinate technology development and construction schedules from the early stages to simultaneously promote technology development and commercialization.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.