Japan and South Korea are making significant progress in developing autonomous navigation systems for large commercial ships, focusing on establishing safe operational parameters and advancing technological commercialisation.

Over the past few years, the Nippon Foundation in Japan has sponsored several demonstration projects aimed at developing key aspects of the technology.

ClassNK authorities state that the initiatives aim to improve sailors' working conditions by reducing their workload and enhancing safety by minimising human errors.

ClassNK Authorises Japan's First Long-Range Autonomous Ship

Japan requires ships to sustain supply chains to its numerous islands, but it also faces the difficulty of an ageing workforce and a decline in sailors.

Notably, the Nippon Foundation's MEGURI2040 Full Autonomous Ship Programme has achieved yet another major milestone. The sole newly built ship in the autonomous shipping initiative, the domestic containership Genbu (5,374 dwt), received a full autonomous designation from ClassNK.

This is the first instance of an autonomous navigation notation for a ship travelling on medium- to long-range coastal routes, according to ClassNK. Kyokuyo Shipyard built the ship, which has finished its certification and demonstrations. The ship can accommodate 696 TEUs and is 134 metres (440 feet) long.

International standards for autonomous navigation have not yet been fully developed, according to the firms creating the technology. According to ClassNK, standards for autonomous operations and components for system operation and maintenance were developed based on the demonstration.

After the containership received the designation, a ferry that participated in the demonstration effort also received certification.

DNV Certifies Avikus' HiNAS Control for Multi-Vessel Use

HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation subsidiary in South Korea, Avikus, emphasises that it has been collaborating with Norway's DNV for the last three years to build the verification framework and specify the safety standards for its autonomous navigation assistance system. According to Avikus, it is intensifying its attempts to market its technologies for vessel autonomy.

The Avikus Autonomous Navigation Support System, HiNAS Control, has received Type Approval from DNV. Avikus notes that this is the first time a mass-produced autonomous navigation system, designed for various vessel types, has received recognition.

In the past, Avikus claimed that the systems were unique to the ship or the particular project. HiNas Control can be implemented without further verification by obtaining the Type Approval, which Avikus claims will increase deployment efficiency. Additionally, it aims to boost confidence among shipowners worldwide.

A Major Milestone with DNV-Approved HiNAS Control

With DNV's Type Approval for its HiNAS Control autonomous navigation support system, Avikus has achieved a significant milestone. This is the first globally certified, mass-produced solution that can be used on a variety of vessel types.

The clearance supports Avikus' efforts to commercialise the system, which combines vision, decision-making, and control to improve collision avoidance. As IMO negotiations on MASS advance, the approval also helps set future global standards.

Furthermore, Avikus is establishing HiNAS Control as a leading technology in the autonomous navigation market, with over 500 orders already placed and more than three years of collaborative verification work under its belt.



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