Japan and South Korea have reported new milestones in the development of autonomous navigation for large commercial ships, as both countries continue work on safe operations and commercial applications.
In Japan, The Nippon Foundation has supported a series of demonstration projects in recent years to develop core elements of autonomous navigation. ClassNK said the work is intended to improve safety by reducing human error and to ease the workload on seafarers. The effort also reflects domestic challenges, including an aging workforce, a decline in seafarer numbers, and the need to maintain shipping links across Japan’s islands.
Under the MEGURI2040 Full Autonomous Ship Program, ClassNK granted a full autonomous notation to Genbu, a 5,374 dwt domestic containership. The vessel was the only newly built ship in the project. ClassNK said this was the first autonomous navigation notation granted to a ship operating on medium- to long-range coastal routes.
Built by Kyokuyo Shipyard, Genbu completed its demonstrations and certification before receiving the notation. The vessel is 134 m long and has a capacity of 696 TEU.
ClassNK also said international standards for autonomous navigation are not yet fully established. Based on the demonstration program, it developed guidelines for autonomous operations and set out elements for system operation and maintenance. Before the notation granted to Genbu, a ferry in the same demonstration project had also received certification.
In South Korea, Avikus, the autonomous navigation subsidiary of HD Hyundai, said it had spent the past three years working with DNV to define safety requirements for its autonomous navigation support system and to establish a verification framework.
DNV recently granted Type Approval for the Avikus autonomous navigation support system, HiNAS Control. According to Avikus, this was the first recognition granted to a mass-produced autonomous navigation system designed for use across multiple vessel types. The company said earlier systems had been developed for a specific ship or an individual project. Avikus added that Type Approval allows HiNAS Control to be installed without additional verification, which it said would improve deployment efficiency and support confidence among global shipowners.
Source: The Maritime Executive
