Samsung Heavy Industries has opened a remote ship operation centre at Evergreen’s headquarters in Taipei, becoming the first collaboration between a shipbuilder and a shipping company to establish such a facility.

The Samsung Remote Operation Centre (SROC) has been designed as a land-based control tower that monitors vessel data and the condition of major onboard equipment in real time, allowing more efficient inspections and maintenance support.

The company said the new centre shows progress in smart-ship operations and remote autonomous navigation technology, while also building on its long-standing partnership with Evergreen. Evergreen is expected to gradually expand the number of vessels linked to the SROC.

Earlier this year, Samsung Heavy equipped a 15,000-TEU Evergreen container vessel with an autonomous navigation system.

The shipbuilder also conducted functional tests of real-time automation systems, condition-based maintenance tools, and remote monitoring technology using shipborne video during a 10,000-kilometre passage between Oakland, United States, and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Both firms have agreed that the launch of the SROC will serve as a foundation for further joint development, including work on remote periodic inspections, as they prepare for a future involving shore-controlled autonomous vessels.

Samsung Heavy added that John Choe, head of its Autonomous Navigation Research Centre, described the SROC as a “second bridge” that will enhance safe navigation and emergency response during the digital transformation of shipping.

He expressed hope that the initiative would support South Korea’s leadership in remote autonomous navigation technology and help strengthen international standards for the sector.

Reference: The Chosun