The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has unveiled the Pos Singapore, marking it as the inaugural large ocean-going vessel designed for Level 3 autonomous shipping.
The South Korean government, as outlined in its Advanced Maritime Mobility Development Strategy revealed in November 2023, has identified autonomous vessels as a crucial priority. This ambitious initiative, launched in 2020, has secured significant government funding surpassing $120 million for the research and development of autonomous shipping technology.
As explained, the goal of this autonomous system is to attain IMO Level 3 classification, enabling the vessel to operate without an onboard crew, with remote control of operations.
From the initial design stages of the containership, Pan Ocean and Hyundai Mipo have diligently prepared for the integration of the autonomous navigation system. This comprehensive system seamlessly combines autonomous navigation with digital-based agency monitoring, communication, and security technologies.
In recent years, the Korean industry has been experimenting with various autonomous systems. In 2022, Hyundai achieved a milestone by conducting the world’s first transoceanic journey of a significant merchant vessel utilizing autonomous navigation technologies. The system was installed on a 97,500 deadweight tonnage LNG carrier, completing a Pacific crossing of over 11,000 nautical miles.
