SM Korealine's LNG bunker vessel gets okay for autonomous navigation

Korea-based SM Group's maritime unit, SM Korealine, on August 28 announced that its subsidiary, Korea Shipping LNG, has obtained autonomous navigation final approval from Panama, the flag state (country of registration), for the LNG bunkering vessel SM Jeju LNG 2.

The bunkering vessel utilises the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) advanced system developed by Samsung Heavy Industries. Over the past year, it has been engaged in official autonomous navigation trials on the Tongyeong to Jeju route, as part of the SAS development phase. Based on these navigation trial data, it has received the first domestic flag state approval, SM Korealine said.

This flag state approval from Panama is the first result of a joint research agreement signed in June of the previous year between KLCSM, SM Group's ship management specialist company, Samsung Heavy Industries, and the Korean Register, regarding the practical application of autonomous navigation systems for large and medium-sized vessels.

Utilising the information collected through SM Jeju LNG 2, KLCSM and Samsung Heavy Industries plan to establish standards for safety procedures during autonomous vessel navigation and the roles of crew members. They also intend to pioneer the autonomous navigation market by upgrading the system to be applicable in ocean and complex coastal navigation scenarios.