HD Hyundai has signed a memorandum of understanding with several affiliated companies and technology partners to develop and commercialise a robotic end-to-end hull maintenance system designed to automate inspection, cleaning and performance verification processes.
The project brings together HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotics, HD Hyundai Marine Solution, autonomous navigation specialist Avikus, marine coatings manufacturer KCC and underwater robotics company TAS Global.
The partners aim to create a “Total Hull Care Solution” capable of continuously monitoring hull condition, detecting fouling, recommending maintenance actions and verifying cleaning results using autonomous underwater robotic systems.
Unlike conventional hull maintenance, which typically relies on periodic inspections and scheduled cleaning campaigns, the new concept is designed around continuous, data-driven monitoring. The system will combine vessel operational data with hull condition assessments to help operators optimize fuel consumption and maintain hull performance throughout a vessel’s service life.
A key element of the project is the development of AI-powered underwater robots capable of conducting autonomous inspections and cleaning operations while collecting detailed data on hull condition and coating performance.
The initiative will also focus on establishing standardised cleaning procedures and coating specifications while integrating inspection results into digital performance management systems.
Hull fouling remains one of the shipping industry’s most persistent operational challenges. Even moderate biofouling can significantly increase hull resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption, increased emissions and reduced vessel efficiency. As regulatory pressure on greenhouse gas emissions intensifies, shipowners are increasingly looking at hull performance as a relatively low-cost method of improving energy efficiency.
According to HD Hyundai, the new platform will be capable of diagnosing hull conditions in real time and recommending maintenance measures through an integrated management system. The company believes the approach could help reduce fuel costs and support compliance with environmental regulations while creating new opportunities in the vessel maintenance and repair sector.
The project also reflects a broader trend towards greater automation in maritime operations. HD Hyundai has been expanding its investment in robotics and autonomous technologies, including previous collaborations aimed at introducing cognitive robots into shipyard operations and advancing autonomous vessel technologies through Avikus.
If successfully commercialised, the system could represent one of the first large-scale attempts to automate the entire hull maintenance cycle, from underwater inspection and cleaning to performance validation and efficiency monitoring.
