South Korea is promoting a new collaborative model that brings together the government and the country’s three major shipbuilders to jointly develop next-generation technologies, including AI-powered autonomous ships.

Speaking on a YouTube program on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol noted that HD Hyundai Co., Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Hanwha Ocean Co., and startups would collaborate to develop autonomous vessels that can optimize routes using seabed data and satellite navigation.

As a result, fuel costs are expected to be cut by up to 40 percent.

Under the proposal, the companies would share technologies across fields and bundle the most competitive solutions, Koo said.

If successful, a new entity would be formed, with equity stakes allocated based on technological contributions, while the state-run fund would take a significant public stake.

Koo said the model is part of follow-up measures to the government-led K-Shipbuilding Tech Alliance and aims to counter China’s scale advantage by accelerating Korea’s transition to physical AI, which integrates artificial intelligence with manufacturing.
Source: Pulse