Pukyong National University

Busan Universities and Companies Join Forces to Develop AI-Based Smart Ship Technologies for Arctic Shipping Routes

- Pukyong National University Research Team Selected for Two Busan Metropolitan City and Ministry of SMEs and Startups R&D Projects Worth KRW 3.6 Billion

- Development of an On-Device AI Platform and AI Navigation System for Operations in Polar Environments

Universities and companies in Busan are joining forces to develop core technologies for AI-powered next-generation smart ships that will support the future development of Arctic shipping routes.

A research team led by Professor Dong-Hyun Kim of the Department of Mechanical, Naval Architecture and Air-Conditioning Engineering at Pukyong National University has been simultaneously selected for two projects under the Regional Innovation Leading Enterprise R&D Program, jointly supported by the Busan Metropolitan City Government and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Through these projects, the team will carry out research and development activities with a combined budget of KRW 3.6 billion.

The Arctic shipping route is attracting growing attention as a key future corridor in the global logistics industry because it can significantly reduce sailing distances compared with the traditional Suez Canal route. However, safe operation in the Arctic remains challenging due to extreme conditions, including temperatures below ？40°C, collisions with floating ice (drifting fragments of sea ice), and limitations in communication infrastructure. These challenges have highlighted the need for new technologies that go beyond the capabilities of conventional vessel systems.

To address these issues, Professor Dong-Hyun Kim’s research team has secured KRW 1.8 billion for each project and will begin approximately two years of research and development this month. The projects will focus on developing AI-based predictive maintenance technologies, which enable faults to be anticipated and addressed before failures occur, as well as next-generation navigation and positioning technologies designed specifically for Arctic operating environments.

The first project, titled “Development and Demonstration of an On-Device AI-Based Hull and Shafting Predictive Maintenance and Active Control Platform for Safe Operation of Polar-Navigation Vessels,” aims to develop autonomous safety management technologies for ships operating in polar regions. Using on-device AI, which enables data to be processed and analyzed directly on board without relying on external communications, the research team plans to develop technologies capable of real-time monitoring and diagnosis of hull and propulsion shaft systems. The system will also allow vessels to autonomously respond to abnormalities and potential failures, even in polar environments where satellite communications are limited.

The second project, “Development of an Intelligent Gyroscope-Based Multi-Sensor Fusion Navigation and Positioning Stabilization Module for Polar Applications,” focuses on creating a next-generation navigation system capable of maintaining reliable positioning and navigation performance under harsh Arctic conditions. The technology will integrate and analyze data from multiple navigation sensors―including GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), gyroscopes, and radar systems―using artificial intelligence-based sensor fusion techniques to ensure accurate navigation and positioning in environments where conventional navigation methods may be challenged.

A key feature of these projects is that they extend beyond laboratory-scale technology development to include real-world validation using operational vessels. The research team plans to collect and analyze a wide range of operational data from various vessel types, including LNG carriers, bulk carriers, and automobile carriers. The data to be gathered will include propulsion system RPM and torque, propulsion shaft bearing vibrations, cylinder combustion pressure, lubricating oil and cooling water conditions, hull stress and strain measurements, as well as environmental and navigational parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, and wave height. By integrating and analyzing these datasets, the researchers aim to develop highly reliable AI-based predictive maintenance and navigation technologies tailored to Arctic operations. In addition, the team will utilize full-scale vessel operation data collected from waters adjacent to Arctic shipping routes to verify the accuracy, robustness, and reliability of the technologies under development, ensuring their practical applicability in future Arctic maritime operations.

To carry out the projects, Professor Dong-Hyun Kim will collaborate with a multidisciplinary research team that includes Professor Jun-Ho Lee, captain of the research vessel Nara; Professor Woo-Chan Seok of the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Systems Engineering; Professor Ji-Hwan Lee of the Department of Technology and Data Engineering; and Professor Dong-Heon Lee of the Department of Oceanography. The projects will also involve several specialized regional companies in the fields of marine data and shipboard communication equipment, including Lab021 Co., Ltd., KDS Co., Ltd., CNET Co., Ltd., and Fiberpro Inc. Through this industry-academia collaboration, the consortium aims to accelerate the development and practical deployment of AI-enabled smart ship technologies for Arctic operations. In addition, the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) will participate by conducting performance analysis and evaluation of the developed technologies and systems, while also supporting the acquisition of official certification and verification necessary for commercialization and practical application.

Professor Dong-Hyun Kim said, “The development of Arctic shipping routes represents not merely a change in maritime routes, but a major turning point that could reshape the paradigm of the global logistics system. For Busan to emerge as a key hub in the future Arctic shipping era, it is essential to secure core technologies that enable safe and efficient vessel operations even under extreme polar conditions.”

He added, “Through this research, we aim to secure core AI-based smart ship technologies capable of enhancing both the safety and operational efficiency of vessels navigating polar regions, while accelerating commercialization through validation using actual operating ships. Drawing on Pukyong National University’s expertise in maritime and shipbuilding engineering, together with its capabilities in artificial intelligence technologies, we will contribute to Busan’s growth as a global maritime logistics hub leading the Arctic shipping era.” <Pukyong Today>