The robot, named Ark-M, showcases impressive capabilities, able to absorb 30,000 liters of contaminated water per hour and purify it to less than 5 parts per million. (Image courtesy of SK Innovation)
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – SK Innovation, a leading South Korean energy and chemical company, conducted a groundbreaking oil spill response drill on August 20 at its SK pier near the Ulsan Complex, the company announced on August 21. This marks the first time a private company in South Korea has employed robotics in such an exercise.
The drill, spearheaded by SK Enterm, SK Innovation’s tank terminal subsidiary, featured an oil skimmer robot developed by Sheco, a startup focused on combating marine pollution. The robot, named Ark-M, showcases impressive capabilities, able to absorb 30,000 liters of contaminated water per hour and purify it to less than 5 parts per million.
One of the key advantages of the Ark-M is its ease of deployment. The robot can be remotely controlled and requires no assembly, allowing for rapid response even by non-experts in emergency situations. This feature could prove crucial in minimizing environmental damage during actual oil spills.
SK Enterm plans to evaluate the results of this drill to explore further collaboration with Sheco, potentially expanding the use of robotic oil skimmers in their operations. This move aligns with the growing trend of integrating advanced technologies into environmental protection efforts.
Sheco, the startup behind the Ark-M, specializes in developing solutions for industrial marine pollution. The company’s portfolio includes robotic oil skimmers, algae removal robots, autonomous marine navigation systems, and AI for marine pollution detection.
The partnership between SK Innovation and Sheco is part of a larger corporate social responsibility initiative. Since 2020, SK Innovation has been supporting environmental startups through its SV2 Impact Partnering agreement, a crowdfunding-based social contribution project.
A spokesperson for SK Enterm emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging AI and other advanced technologies to enhance marine environmental preservation and improve worker safety.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
