Samsung Heavy Industries unveiled its autonomous vessel prototype, the SHIFT-Auto. (Image courtesy of Samsung Heavy Industries)
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – Samsung Heavy Industries unveiled its autonomous vessel prototype, the SHIFT-Auto, at a launching ceremony in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on November 21.
The 12-meter vessel, designed to carry up to 12 passengers, showcases cutting-edge autonomous navigation technologies integrated from the design phase, including automated docking and undocking systems, voice control, and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities.
Built with a catamaran design featuring twin hulls to minimize rolling motion, the SHIFT-Auto incorporates Samsung Electronics’ SmartThings IoT system to ensure reliable and secure data collection.
The research vessel will serve as a testbed for various autonomous navigation features, including collision avoidance, optimal route planning, and remote control using low-orbit satellite communications.
Choi Sung-an, CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries, along with ministry officials and classification society representatives, participated in a demonstration voyage in Gohyeon Bay off Geoje Island to experience the vessel’s autonomous capabilities firsthand.
The launch comes ahead of South Korea’s Autonomous Ship Act, which takes effect in January. The ministry noted that the SHIFT-Auto’s trials were made possible through regulatory sandbox exemptions, which have also enabled HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to begin testing autonomous systems on an 8,000-TEU container vessel this month.
“With President-elect Trump recently expressing interest in shipbuilding cooperation with Korea, autonomous vessels could become a potential area for collaboration,” said Lee Seung-ryeol, head of industrial policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
“The government will continue supporting the development and commercialization of advanced autonomous navigation technologies.”
Samsung Heavy Industries aims to develop the vessel into an integrated autonomous navigation platform combining AI and IoT technologies, with the ultimate goal of enabling ships to complete docking, undocking, and anchoring operations without crew intervention.
In a parallel development, a Korean-developed autonomous ship system, jointly created by the industry ministry and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, began trials on a 1,800-TEU container vessel in September.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
