HD Hyundai to develop AI technology for ships

Officials from HD Hyundai, the American Bureau of Shipping and the Liberian Registry including HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun (second from right) pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding on developing artificial intelligence technology for a new ship structure at Posidonia 2024 in Athens, Greece, on Monday. (HD Hyundai)

HD Hyundai has partnered with global leaders in the maritime classification and registration sectors to develop a new structure for ships by removing blind spots on vessels, the Korean shipbuilding conglomerate said Tuesday.

For the development of AI technology, HD Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Bureau of Shipping and the Liberian Registry at Posidonia 2024, one of the world’s largest shipping exhibitions, held in Athens, Greece this week. About 2,000 companies from 77 countries are taking part in this year’s event.

The new ship structure, which HD Hyundai will work to develop, is expected to feature systems that would film blind spots in a ship and visualize them with AI technology. According to the shipbuilder, this would maximize efficiency as it would allow for more loads regardless of the cockpit’s height.

Under the MOU, the American Bureau of Shipping and Liberian Registry will co-develop proposals for revising regulations that would fit the new ship structure HD Hyundai looks to craft. HD Hyundai said it expects to secure an edge in the AI-based shipbuilding sector and commercialization of the new technology.

“We will lead the transformation of the ocean by preemptively responding to the change of technology through the integration of eco-friendly and digital technologies to develop futuristic ships,” said HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun who participated in the international shipping exhibition along with top executives at HD Hyundai companies such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering.

HD Hyundai has set up a booth at the exhibition, displaying miniatures of the methanol dual-fuel very large crude carrier, container ship and futuristic liquefied natural gas carrier as well as the shipbuilder’s next-generation low-carbon fuel technology.

HD Hyundai said it will receive a series of approvals in principle for the ammonia-fueled carrier applied with zero carbon propulsion systems and the petrochemical carriers and containers equipped with the AI safety package technology at this year’s Posidonia.

By Kan Hyeong-woo(hwkan@heraldcorp.com)