Hyundai Glovis and Avikus Unveil Groundbreaking Autonomous Ships

Hyundai Glovis and Avikus Unveil Groundbreaking Autonomous Ships

Hyundai Glovis, in partnership with Avikus, is set to launch the worldnulls first fully autonomous car-carrying ships. These impressive vessels, stretching 750 feet and weighing nearly 100,000 tons, are a significant achievement in artificial intelligence and maritime automation.

The integration of AI technology into these ships marks a major advancement in global logistics and maritime safety. By automating the navigation and operational processes, these ships aim to reduce human error and enhance efficiency in the shipping industry. This move could potentially revolutionise how goods are transported across the world’s oceans.

For context, Hyundai Glovis is a prominent player in the logistics sector, particularly known for its extensive shipping capabilities. Avikus, a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries, focuses on developing innovative autonomous navigation systems. Their collaboration reflects a growing trend towards automation in various sectors, driven by technological advancements and the demand for increased efficiency.

Beyond operational efficiency, the introduction of autonomous car carriers represents a strategic response to mounting industry pressures such as crew shortages, rising fuel costs, and increasingly stringent environmental regulations. These ships utilise sophisticated AI to make real-time decisions based on vast arrays of sensor data, weather forecasts, and maritime traffic information.

This allows for optimised routing and fuel consumption, contributing to both cost savings and reduced carbon emissions, an increasingly critical factor as international maritime organisations push for greener operations.

The move also sets a precedent in regulatory adaptation, as global maritime authorities will need to define new frameworks for the certification, monitoring, and liability of unmanned vessels. As with autonomous vehicles on land, the transition from assisted to fully autonomous operation will likely be phased, with initial voyages including crew oversight before progressing to full autonomy.

If successful, Hyundai Glovis and Avikus could spark wider adoption of this model, influencing not just commercial shipping but also naval and research applications where autonomous navigation can provide tactical and logistical advantages.

Key Data Points

  • Hyundai Glovis, in partnership with Avikus, is set to deploy the world’s first AI-driven autonomous car-carrying ships by 2026, with initial retrofits on seven 750-foot, nearly 100,000-ton vessels.
  • These ships will utilize Avikus’s HiNAS Control system, an AI-based navigation solution that fuses real-time sensor and voyage data to enable automated collision avoidance, route optimization, and operational decision-making.
  • The HiNAS system has demonstrated up to 3.9% fuel savings in pilot operations, aligned with Hyundai Glovis’s 2045 Net Zero goal and ESG strategies.
  • The transition will start at Level-2 Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) automation, allowing for remotely controlled navigation with crew still onboard; the ambition is to progress to Level-3 and Level-4 (full unmanned operations) by 2027.
  • These advanced vessels are designed to address industry challenges including crew shortages, rising operational and fuel costs, safety, and pressure to reduce carbon emissions in compliance with tightening international environmental regulations.
  • Autonomous ship technology is expected to enhance global logistics by reducing human error, boosting efficiency, streamlining supply chains, allowing for 24/7 operations, and lowering costs.
  • Avikus completed the world’s first transatlantic voyage using a Level-2 autonomous LNG carrier system in 2022, validating the technology in real-world scenarios.
  • The adoption of AI-powered navigation is expected to expand to more ship types, with similar systems being installed on bulk and container vessels worldwide.
  • Regulatory and legal frameworks are still evolving: current maritime laws require the presence of qualified crew, and regulatory bodies are exploring amendments and new standards to address liability, safety, and certification for unmanned vessels.

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