Kim Jong-gwan, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (center), visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje site in Geoje, Gyeongnam on the 14th as his first industrial site visit since taking office.
The government will invest 320 billion won this year to secure a technological lead in the shipbuilding and marine industry. The goal is to widen the technology gap with competing countries and simultaneously improve productivity and safety by transitioning to AI-based smart shipyards.
On the 24th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy finalized the 2023 R&D budget for the shipbuilding and marine industry at 320 billion won, a 23% increase from the previous year, and started soliciting applications for new technology development projects. Investments will focus on eco-friendly ships, AI and digital shipyards, and autonomous ships.
Although the shipbuilding industry succeeded in rebounding in exports and orders last year, the global competitive landscape has become more challenging. Chinese shipyards’ price competitiveness and large-scale order offensives are intensifying, and environmental regulations, led by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), continue to strengthen yearly. The government believes that relying solely on a strategy focused on high-value-added ship types is insufficient to ensure long-term competitiveness.
The government has placed eco-friendly ship technology at the forefront of its strategy. It plans to heavily invest in securing key technologies required for the transition to zero-carbon ships, such as hydrogen and ammonia fuel propulsion technology, systems for capturing and storing carbon dioxide from ship engine exhaust, and electric propulsion equipment for medium-to-large ships. Beyond responding to carbon neutrality regulations, the goal is to set standards for eco-friendly ships.
The establishment of AI-based smart shipyards will also take off. The strategy is to transform the labor-intensive structure of shipyards by applying automation and intelligent systems to processes such as ship block assembly, logistics and transport of materials, and high-risk, high-complexity operations. In a climate of aging skilled workers and unstable labor supply, AI and robots are not considered alternatives but essential infrastructure.
The autonomous ship sector is also accelerating with a focus on demonstrations. A large-scale demonstration project will be conducted using 30 domestic vessels to gather the operational data necessary for AI learning. A system for data accumulation and validation will be established to pave the way for commercialization.
Strengthening the competitiveness of equipment companies and small and medium shipyards is also being pursued. The idea is that if new technologies like eco-friendly, autonomous, and electric propulsion do not settle in the field, the technological gap across the industry ecosystem will inevitably widen.
An official from the Ministry stated, “Through the new project solicitation, we plan to incrementally advance technologies such as eco-friendly fuel propulsion systems, carbon dioxide capture technology for ships, and AI-based production and operation technologies.”
Reporter Ahn Young-guk [email protected]