Korea Debuts First Autonomous Containership in History

South Korea has launched a new containership designed for Level 3 autonomous shipping, marking a significant milestone in the development of autonomous vessels. The vessel, named Pos Singapore and built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, is the first large ocean-going ship of its kind and will undergo long-distance international demonstrations later this year. With a capacity of 1,800 TEU and scheduled for delivery at the end of the month, the vessel is part of South Korea’s Advanced Maritime Mobility Development Strategy, which aims to advance autonomous shipping technology.

The South Korean government has invested over $120 million in research and development for autonomous shipping, forming a public-private partnership with the shipbuilding, shipping, and technology industries. The autonomous navigation system on the Pos Singapore integrates various technologies for remote-controlled operations, aiming to achieve IMO Level 3 autonomy where the ship can operate without crew onboard. This initiative follows successful testing of autonomous systems on smaller vessels and a transoceanic voyage of a large merchant ship in 2022.

Hyundai Mipo and Pan Ocean have been working on installing the autonomous navigation system on the Pos Singapore since its order in 2022. The vessel is set to conduct its first international demonstrations in September 2024, following in the footsteps of previous successful tests of autonomous technology in the Korean maritime industry. The development of autonomous shipping is a key focus for South Korea’s maritime sector, with plans to further advance the technology in the coming years.

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