South Korea has started a large-scale project to collect real operational ship data for autonomous vessel systems, as the country pushes deeper into smart shipping and AI-controlled navigation.
The government officially launched the programme on 7 May together with shipbuilders, shipping companies, and technology firms. The project will run until 2029 with funding of nearly KRW 35 billion ($25 million).
Instead of relying only on simulations, the platform will gather data directly from operating vessels. Engineers will use it to train AI systems for navigation, machinery control, route planning, collision avoidance, and remote operations.
The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO), which is leading the project, plans to collect around 100 different types of operational data. The focus includes bridge operations, steering, engine performance, ship traffic, weather conditions, communications, and onboard safety systems.
South Korea also wants to create a shared database that smaller shipyards and maritime tech companies can access, not only the major shipbuilding groups.
The project is linked to the country’s wider autonomous ship programme, which could receive up to KRW 600 billion ($430 million) in funding. That programme includes real-world demonstrations and commercial deployment of autonomous vessel technologies.
South Korean authorities say data quality will become one of the key factors in the global race for autonomous shipping systems.
“The competitiveness of autonomous ships created by Korea’s shipbuilding industry will ultimately be determined by the quality of data,” said Park Dong-il from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The government is also preparing a national development plan for autonomous shipping, covering technology, infrastructure, crew training, and international regulations.
South Korea is already one of the world’s leading builders of LNG carriers and high-tech commercial vessels. Major Korean yards have spent recent years expanding smart bridge systems, remote engine monitoring, and digital ship management platforms, and the new AI data programme is expected to accelerate that transition.
