HD Hyundai: AI-powered route optimization hits South Korean waters for ‘first time’

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Marine Solution, a marine solutions provider operating under HD Hyundai, has deployed its AI-powered route optimization system on board domestic commercial vessels for the ‘first time ever’, aiming to slash fuel consumption and harmful emissions.

According to HD Hyundai Marine Solution, one of the ships to have the OceanWise system installed is compatriot SK Shipping’s 318,000 dwt crude oil carrier C.Brave. This comes on the heels of a late January 2025 contract signed with SK Shipping and logistics firm Hyundai Glovis to supply the solution on several vessels owned by the companies.

As explained, OceanWise uses big data and AI algorithms to suggest ‘optimal’ routes based on a ship’s current location with the purpose of cutting fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which is in line with the maritime industry’s increasing focus on sustainability and operational efficiency.

The practical use of OceanWise was reportedly also verified through a previous arrangement with HD Hyundai Oilbank, starting in April 2024.

As informed, the performance tests conducted over 13 routes, covering a total of 106,000 kilometers, revealed an average fuel saving of 5.3%, which is said to represent a fuel cost reduction of around KRW 350 million (circa $240,973) for a vessel consuming 10,000 tons of fuel annually.

HD Hyundai Marine Solution has elaborated that the accuracy and the objectivity of the experiments were further analyzed via a twin ship verification method—a move that is described as a ‘world first’.

As stated by the company, this approach involves simultaneously launching a comparative test vessel together with a control ship on the same route and swapping captains for a re-run to eliminate biases and increase the reliability of the collected information.

“The trust we have secured among cargo owners and shipping companies through these real-world demonstrations was a key factor in finalizing this supply contract. With the effectiveness of OceanWise, we believe it will become the standard for decarbonization solutions in the future ship market,” it was underscored.

It is understood that the company has plans underway to expand the application of OceanWise across all vessel types and sizes.

The solution has been tested in collaboration with other industry stakeholders, too, even in combination with other AI-powered innovations.

For example, in July 2024, HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding holding company HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Marine Solution signed an agreement regarding the utilization of artificial intelligence-based systems. The contract was signed with the shipping company Pan Ocean, ship management company POS SM, and classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

At the time, it was unveiled that HD KSOE’s ‘AI Shipboard Safety Management Package Solution’ would be used on Pan Ocean’s 174,000 cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier to test the vessel’s safety. Simultaneously, OceanWise was applied to measure and predict harmful pollutant emissions.