The vessel, POS Singapore (22,867 dwt), was developed as part of a government-supported initiative aimed at advancing and commercializing autonomous shipping technology. The project received backing from South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, as well as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The automation systems onboard the POS Singapore were designed in South Korea under this government program, with PAN Ocean, a South Korean bulk shipping company, overseeing their integration. Built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, the 1,800 TEU vessel measures 172 meters in length and is registered in Liberia. The ship was ordered in 2022, floated in March, and delivered in April. Since then, it has undergone outfitting and testing of the automation systems.
At a sendoff ceremony on September 23, government officials emphasized that the ship will be used for the next year to test and validate its automation systems while operating on routes between Korea and Southeast Asia. The vessel’s core technologies include intelligent navigation and weather monitoring for situational awareness, as well as engine automation and cybersecurity systems.
The ministries have invested $119 million in the project, viewing it as a model for the future commercialization of automated shipping technology. South Korea aims to use the results of this year’s testing to help shape international standards for autonomous vessels, contributing to the International Maritime Organization’s ongoing efforts to develop the MASS Code for automation.
South Korea is positioning itself to gain a competitive advantage in the next generation of shipbuilding, having previously tested automation technologies, including a trial on an LNG carrier in the Pacific in 2022 and further tests on smaller domestic cargo ships.
