The world’s first ships with autonomous navigation will put to sea by 2026

Hyundai Glovis has announced plans to equip seven of its car carrier carrier (PCTC) vessels with artificial intelligence-based autonomous navigation systems. The project is being undertaken in conjunction with Avikus, a subsidiary of HD Hyundai specializing in autonomous vessel technology.

Technology Features
- Route optimization in real time based on weather conditions and hydrographic data
- Automatic course and speed correction
- Improved fuel efficiency through intelligent powertrain management
Despite the introduction of Level 2 (IMO) autonomous functions, the vessels will continue to operate with a crew to oversee the operation of the systems.
Implementation Outlook
The project’s pilot vessel will be the 229-meter-long Sunrise car carrier, capable of carrying up to 7,000 vehicles. If the project is successful, Hyundai Glovis plans to:
- Reduce operating costs by 10-15%
- Reduce CO2 emissions through route optimization
- Improve maritime safety
Competitive Environment
This initiative makes Hyundai Glovis the first operator to introduce integrated autonomous navigation systems on commercial motor carriers. Previously, similar technologies have been tested by Japanese and European companies, but did not go beyond pilot projects.
The initiative makes Hyundai Glovis the first operator to introduce integrated autonomous navigation systems on commercial vehicles.
Experts say the success of the program could lead to a transformation of the entire shipping industry, where human error rates are as high as 80% of accidents. However, questions remain about cybersecurity and the regulatory environment for autonomous shipping.
The program’s success could transform the entire shipping industry, where human error rates are as high as 80 percent.
Hyundai Glovis’ investment in fleet digitalization will be about $6.5 billion by 2030. The company sees this project as a key element of its strategy to transition to smart logistics solutions.
The World’s first ships with autonomous navigation will put to sea by 2026 was first published on ITZine.ru.