"Autonomous Ship 'Standards War' to Determine Maritime Competitiveness in the Next Decade"

International E-Mobility Expo

"Competition Over Standards More Critical Than Technology"

An analysis has emerged suggesting that the core issue in the upcoming era of autonomous ships will be "competition over standards." Currently, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing the "IMO MASS Code," which specifies safety, operation, and liability standards for autonomous ships. This code is expected to be expanded into an international mandatory regulation by 2032.

Han Sun Park, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Maritime Institute, emphasized the importance of this issue at the "Evolution of Physical AI" seminar held at the E-Mobility Expo in Jeju on March 26, stating, "Depending on who sets the standards, the future structure of the shipping and shipbuilding industries could change significantly."

Senior Research Fellow Hanseon Park of the Korea Maritime Institute is presenting at the E-Mobility Expo seminar titled "Evolution of Physical AI" held in Jeju on the 26th. Photo by Korea Automobile Journalists Association

He explained that if the voices of the Korean shipbuilding industry are reflected in these standards, the competitiveness of the domestic industry will be greatly strengthened. The global competition for leadership has already escalated into a "war over standards." China is submitting a large number of regulatory proposals to the IMO by deploying massive human resources and technological capabilities.

Park noted, "Development teams from Korea's three major shipbuilders are participating in the code formulation process, and a significant portion of our perspectives has already been reflected." However, he added, "China is rapidly training AI experts and is demanding revisions to IMO standards at a remarkable speed. The proactive establishment of a legal basis for sea trials, following the implementation of the 'Autonomous Ship Act' in 2024, is part of the same context."

Park projected that the maritime mobility market, including both upstream and downstream industries, will grow to a scale of 750 trillion won by 2050. He stated, "Beyond simple manufacturing capabilities, the ability to design global standards and legal systems—so-called 'rule-making'—will determine the success or failure of maritime leadership over the next ten years."

Park also observed that concerns over a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East conflict are accelerating the development of AI-based autonomous ship technology.

"Due to the ongoing Hormuz conflict, it is currently impossible to transport energy and crude oil," Park explained. "If ships could be operated remotely from land without crew members onboard, the development of such vessels could accelerate in the era of artificial intelligence (AI)."

Park emphasized the necessity of introducing autonomous ships from both economic and social value perspectives. He noted, "It costs 1 billion won to train a single ship expert, and according to U.S. standards, the social value per person exceeds 10 billion won. The safety value of the crews aboard the 250 ships stranded in Hormuz alone amounts to several trillion won. If AI could replace these roles, it would dramatically reduce risks."

Autonomous ships, next-generation vessels that navigate without direct human intervention by leveraging AI, sensor, and communication technologies, are regarded as a key technology for enhancing both maritime safety and operational efficiency. In particular, their strategic value is coming to the forefront, as unmanned and remote operations can minimize human casualties in high-risk areas such as conflict zones.

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