To accelerate the抢占 of the new track of artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous navigation ships, the South Korean government has decided that, without conducting a preliminary feasibility survey, it can immediately start the AI technology-based fully autonomous navigation ship (unmanned autonomous ship) R&D project next year.
On November 6, the Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea held the 8th National R&D Project Evaluation Steering Committee meeting and decided to exempt the AI Fully Autonomous Navigation Ship Technology Development Project (led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) from the preliminary feasibility survey. Previously, this project passed the recognition of necessity and urgency at the State Council meeting on October 21 and was designated as a national policy-driven project.
It is understood that the South Korean government’s preliminary feasibility survey is mainly used to assess the feasibility of major R&D projects and is a mandatory procedure stipulated by the Finance Law. However, it can be exempted under specific紧急 circumstances to accelerate technological self-reliance and respond to突发 demands. In South Korea, R&D projects involving government support exceeding 30 billion won (approximately 150 million RMB) require a preliminary feasibility survey.
In 2021, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) initiated the development of the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) Code. The mandatory MASS Code is expected to take effect on January 1, 2032. South Korea has invested 160.3 billion won (approximately 800 million RMB) in autonomous navigation ship technology development projects since 2020, developing technology equivalent to the third level of autonomous navigation ships and contributing to the establishment of international standards. In March 2024, South Korea’s first Level 3 autonomous navigation container ship, the “Pos Singapore,” was delivered. Built by HD Hyundai Mipo, the ship is equipped with an autonomous navigation system supporting unmanned autonomous navigation and remote control.
According to the IMO definition, the technology for maritime autonomous surface ships is broadly divided into four levels. Level 1: Crew are on board and the autonomous system provides decision support to the captain and other crew; Level 2: Crew are on board and the system performs remote monitoring; Level 3: The system operates most onboard equipment, with very few crew on board and the system performing remote monitoring; Level 4: The system perceives, judges, and controls all situations for “fully unmanned autonomous navigation.”
In subsequent projects, the South Korean government has also decided to promote Level 4 technology development (unmanned navigation, machinery automation, operational technology, inspection certification, and empirical technology development) by exempting the preliminary feasibility survey, to respond to the establishment of international standards and the commercialization needs of autonomous navigation ships.
The South Korean government’s goal is to promote the development of autonomous navigation ship technology through investment and policy support, seize the future market, lead the digital innovation in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors, and capture 50% of the global autonomous navigation ship market by 2030.
Relevant departments will finalize the project content and total budget after studying the appropriateness of the Level 4 technology development project plan, and begin development starting in 2026.
It is reported that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, responsible for exempting the preliminary feasibility survey for future-oriented technology projects, also discussed the appropriateness of the project plan and finalized the total project budget over 11 years to be 302.6 billion won (approximately 1.5 billion RMB). This project is a large-scale R&D project designed to change the domestic industrial landscape and gain an advantage in the global market, aiming to create new markets or innovatively promote the transformation of existing industries.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to immediately open a public call for and select 10 major sector technology topics that can form new markets over the next 10 years, promoting technology development, commercialization, and the construction of an industrial ecosystem. The fields designated as the 5 core strategic areas are production automation and robotics; semiconductors and displays; energy; biotechnology and healthcare; and mobility. The Ministry plans to focus on these areas, immediately open a public call for topics, select and provide support for 10 major sector technology research topics. The related topics are core technologies that achieve substantive innovation in the industrial field, including the commercialization of industrial humanoid robots, AI semiconductors mimicking brain structure, and the development of bio-artificial organs.
Park In-kyu, Head of the Science and Technology Innovation Headquarters at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated: “We will actively invest in innovative R&D that connects to national growth engines and major national projects, striving to make science and technology the foundation for the sustainable development of our society.”
