South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy have launched an “Artificial Intelligence Data Platform” project for autonomous vessels. The initiative, which will run until 2029 with a budget of approximately $23.9 million, has brought together 25 shipping and shipbuilding companies that signed a data-sharing agreement.
The project aims to create a comprehensive digital foundation for autonomous functions such as collision avoidance, route optimization, and predictive maintenance based on data collected from real maritime operations.
Led by the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, the project will gather 100 types of data across eight key sectors, including navigation, engine systems, and digital twins. Ministry officials stated that the future competitiveness of Korean ships will largely depend on the quality of this data.
The initiative is part of a broader $400 million government program dedicated to the development of fully autonomous navigation technologies. South Korea is expected to present its first official commercialization roadmap for the sector in 2026.
