Is autonomous shipping set to take over Asia’s deep-sea routes?
28 Oct 20258 min read
Summary
- Hyundai Glovis is retrofitting seven car carriers with Avikus’s HiNAS Control system, marking the world’s first commercial deployment of Level-2 autonomous surface ships. These vessels will operate semi-independently on long-haul routes while crews remain onboard for oversight, enhancing navigation, fuel efficiency, and safety.
- Asia is emerging as a global leader in maritime autonomy, with South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and China advancing commercial trials, regulatory frameworks, and port infrastructure upgrades. AI-driven platforms are improving operational efficiency, reducing emissions, and enabling just-in-time arrivals across major trade corridors.
- Challenges remain in cybersecurity, regulatory harmonization, workforce training, and geopolitical risks in contested waters. Despite these hurdles, the region’s fleets and ports are scaling autonomous systems, signaling a shift from experimental projects to routine, commercially viable operations.
Asia is quietly transforming at sea. South Korea-based Hyundai Glovis has partnered with Avikus, the autonomous navigation unit of HD Hyundai, to retrofit seven car carriers. These vessels will use artificial intelligence to navigate semi-independently on long-haul shipping routes.This is the first commercial deployment of Level-2 maritime autonomous surface ships, or MASS, in the world. Hyundai Glovis expects all seven Pure Car and Truck Carriers to be equipped with Avikus’s HiNAS Control system by mid-2026. They will continue transporting vehicles, machinery, and industrial cargo along major trade corridors, including Asia-Europe and intra-Asia routes.This move sets the stage for a broader story: Asia’s ports and shipping lanes are becoming living laboratories for maritime autonomy. From South Korea to Singapore, trials and commercial deployments are accelerating. The bigger question is no longer if but how well Asia is positioning itself to lead the world in autonomous shipping.
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