Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) will jointly research, develop and trial the application of autonomous navigation systems for medium and large vessels with class society Korean Register and shipowner and manager KLCSM, reports Riviera.
The MOU
The partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to undertake research and approval processes together for autonomous ship equipment and technology. This agreement comes as more shipowners integrate artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things, data analytics and sensor systems into their vessels to assist crews.
Under this MoU, SHI’s autonomous navigation system Samsung autonomous ship (SAS) will be installed on KLCSM’s fleet of operating ships.
The MoU partners will perform risk assessments, develop and certify cyber-security systems and review the conformity of standards for future domestic approval, collaborating on the commercialisation of autonomous navigation systems through the certification of ship equipment, including ECDIS.
Other benefits
“With this latest joint co-operation, more autonomous navigation systems will be successfully applied to ships, which will further increase the efficiency of shipmanagement,” KLCSM managing director Kwon Ohgil said. “We also expect to improve vessel safety and the environment of ship operations amid a current shortage of sailors.”
KR has been building up its classification certification performance and autonomous navigation ship technology by applying its rules, cyber-security certification and risk-based approval in accordance with its 2019-published Guidance for Autonomous Ships.
“KR will provide technical support for this project to further the development and operation autonomous navigation systems,” said KR head of plan approval Yeon Kyujin.
SHI is focusing its capabilities on the research and development for the commercialisation of autonomous navigation technologies for ocean and coastal navigation, said director of the SHI’s marine shipbuilding research centre Kim Hyunjo.
This includes “conducting practical ship operations based on the maritime demonstration of our own SAS autonomous navigation system.”
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Source: Riviera