Deputy Minister for Industry Policy Lee Seung-ryeol presided over a significant milestone in autonomous maritime technology today, attending the sail-away ceremony for Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) SHIFT-Auto, an autonomous navigation demonstration vessel, on Geoje Island.
The SHIFT-Auto, developed under Korea’s regulatory sandbox framework, was approved during the third meeting of the Deliberative Committee on Regulatory Exceptions for Industrial Convergence in July. This demonstration precedes the enactment of the Act on Promoting the Development and Commercialization of Autonomous Ships, which comes into effect on January 3, 2025. The vessel showcases advanced features such as collision-avoidance systems, optimal route planning, and remote control via low-earth orbit satellite communications, with the goal of completing missions without crew intervention.
Korea’s push toward autonomous shipping is gaining momentum with other initiatives underway. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has commenced trials of its 8,000 TEU containership this month, while Hanwha Ocean is preparing to launch its own autonomous vessel demonstrations in 2024. Additionally, trials of the Korean autonomous ship system model—jointly developed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)—began in September aboard an 1,800 TEU containership.
MOTIE has pledged continued support for these trials through the regulatory sandbox, emphasizing the importance of seamless implementation of the upcoming autonomous ship legislation. These efforts aim to position South Korea as a global leader in the development and commercialization of autonomous maritime technologies.
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