HD Hyundai said on the 16th that the previous day Avikus, an autonomous ship-navigation specialist, signed a supply contract with HMM at the Pangyo Global R&D Center (GRC) in Gyeonggi for the large-vessel autonomous navigation solution "HiNAS Control." It is the largest order to date, signaling faster momentum in the autonomous navigation business.

Under the contract, Avikus will supply HiNAS Control to 40 ships operated by HMM. Avikus' HiNAS Control is an autonomous navigation system that goes beyond perception and decision-making to perform control functions.

At the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center on the 15th, Avikus CEO Lim Do-hyung (first from right), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering CEO Kim Hyung-kwan (second from right), HMM CEO Choi Won-hyuk (center), Avikus CEO Kang Jae-ho (second from left), and HMM Executive Vice President Lee Jeong-yeop (first from left) pose for a commemorative photo during the signing ceremony for the supply and technology partnership of the autonomous navigation solution HiNAS Control by Avikus and HMM. /Courtesy of HD Hyundai

Without crew intervention, it sets the optimal route on its own and sails to prevent accidents, while maintaining the optimal speed to deliver expected fuel cost savings. In the long term, it is drawing attention as an alternative to address crew shortages caused by a declining workforce. HD Hyundai said its differentiated technology, compared with competitors' solutions that remain at autonomous navigation assistance functions, is gaining attention in the global autonomous navigation market.

On the day, Avikus, HMM and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering also signed a "business agreement on AI-based autonomous navigation technology cooperation."

Under the agreement, Avikus will advance and supply the autonomous navigation solution, HMM will introduce and operate the autonomous navigation solution, and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will handle platform support and technology linkage cooperation from the vessel's technical perspective.

An HMM official said, "In the digital and eco-friendly shipping ecosystem, AI-based technology is a core technology for strengthening competitiveness," and added, "We will actively participate in cooperation to strengthen global competitiveness."

An HD Hyundai official said, "Autonomous navigation technology is a core technology that will play a game-changing role in the shipbuilding and shipping industries," and added, "By combining the capabilities of the three companies, we will lead next-generation autonomous vessel technology and preempt standards."

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