HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said on the 8th that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HD Hyundai Avikus to supply autonomous navigation solutions and cooperate on technology.
The two companies signed the memorandum of understanding at the Posidonia exhibition in Athens, Greece, on the 4th and agreed to apply HiNAS Control, a stage-two autonomous navigation solution for large merchant ships developed by HD Hyundai Avikus, to vessels developed and built by HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, and to continue mutual technological cooperation going forward.
HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said the memorandum was signed to strengthen technological competitiveness in intelligent and digital ships and to expand the application of autonomous navigation technology so as to secure responsiveness in advance in the next-generation high value-added ship market.
By using autonomous ships, the shipping industry expects to significantly cut fuel and labor costs, which account for about 80% of operating expenses for commercial vessels.
In Korea, the government and major shipbuilders are conducting research and tests and accumulating operational data.
Ryu Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, said, "As ship unmanning accelerates, we signed this memorandum of understanding to proactively respond to the future ship market."