Hyundai Heavy Industries drives software development

The companies hope to encourage small to medium sized ICT providers to develop a range of software solutions to be applied to vessels by 2019, covering maintenance for key equipment, ballast tank inspection, virtual reality training, automatic voyage information reporting and remote medical treatment services.

HHI and SK Shipping will provide technological mentoring services and smart ship platforms for the to-be-developed software while the Ulsan Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (UCCEI) and the Daejeon Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (DCCEI) will hold briefing sessions for ICT companies on technology demands for shipbuilders and shipping lines.

HHI said: “The Korean shipbuilding industry has developed on the back of the advanced manufacturing technology but now is the time for us to shift our focus to differentiated ship service technologies. We see that customised and value-added software will play a role in reviving the industry.”

The new project follows the launch of HHI’s own smart ship platform, OceanLink, in partnership with management consultant Accenture in May. The initiative builds on HHI’s existing Smart Ship System, launched in 2011, and enables ship owners to monitor a ship’s status and condition in real-time, with instant access to and analysis of weather, location, onboard equipment condition and cargo status.