Successful Fully Autonomous Ship Navigation Even in Narrow 10m Wide Waterways

Avikus, a company specializing in autonomous ship navigation, held a demonstration of autonomous ship navigation on the 16th (Wednesday) around the Pohang Canal area in Gyeongbuk. Photo by Hyundai Heavy Industries Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] A complete autonomous ship operation test, where the entire process of navigating a ship from departure, sailing, return, to docking is done without human intervention, has been successfully conducted.

On the 16th, Avikus, a specialized autonomous navigation company under Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, held a demonstration with a 12-person cruise ship at the Pohang Canal in Gyeongbuk. The Pohang Canal is 10 km long with an average waterway width of 10 meters, making it narrow. It has a complex and challenging navigation environment with ships gathered in both inner and outer harbors. KAIST, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, and KT participated in the demonstration.

At this demonstration, Avikus utilized advanced technologies such as ‘Hynas,’ an AI system that analyzes the ship’s condition and surroundings and informs the navigator through augmented reality (AR), and ‘Hybas,’ a ship docking and undocking support system. They applied advanced navigation assistance systems including laser-based sensors (LiDAR) used in autonomous vehicles and special cameras to the ship. The ship was enabled to autonomously respond to various unexpected situations such as maritime weather, currents, and fishing boat appearances without crew members.

The company plans to further refine the technology and apply it to all types of ships, including passenger and cargo vessels. As early as the second half of this year, they plan to undertake the world’s first ocean crossing of a large ship using autonomous navigation technology in collaboration with a domestic shipping company. Lim Do-hyung, CEO of Avikus, said, "Based on the successful demonstration of complete autonomous ship operation technology, we will commercialize the world’s first autonomous leisure boat next year," adding, "We will pioneer the autonomous ship market, considered the final destination of future maritime mobility."

Avikus was launched in December last year as Hyundai Heavy Industries Group’s first in-house venture company, researching advanced navigation assistance and autonomous navigation solutions. According to global market research firm Acute Market Reports, the autonomous ship and equipment market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 12.6%, reaching a market size of $235.7 billion by 2028.

At the autonomous ship navigation demonstration held on the 16th around the Pohang Canal in Gyeongbuk, Mike Welch, Counselor of the International Trade Department at the British Embassy in Korea (from the left in the photo), Lim Doyoung, CEO of Abicus, Han Sangcheol, Chief of Pohang Maritime Police Station, Lee Kangdeok, Mayor of Pohang, Kim Seongjun, Director of the Future Technology Research Institute at Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Kwon Byunghun, Director of the Digital Technology Research Institute at Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, are posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Hyundai Heavy Industries Group

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