South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (one of the world's largest shipbuilding companies) started the construction on an electric propulsion passenger ship combining for the first time smart technologies with eco-friendly designs.
The vessel, which they are calling "a milestone in the eco-friendly market", integrates communications and information to provide a ship capable of smart operations.
First steel was cut on October 19, 2021, for the newbuild which is being built via a partnership with the city government of Ulsan (Gyeongju) and Ulsan Information Industry Promotion Agency as a demonstration project for the technologies.
The boat will measure 292 ft (89 m) in length with a 42-foot (13-m) beam/width, a height of 18 ft (5,5 m), max passenger capacity 300, LNG-powered (dual-fuel engines), and with max speed 16 knots (18 mph/30 kph).
Among the technologies integrated aboard is a DC Grid-based electric propulsion system maximizing fuel efficiency. Although the propulsion system is being imported, Hyundai Mipo expects its application will lead to the commercialization of electric propulsion in the domestic market.
Among the smart technologies is a collision prevention and berthing guidance support system.
The vessel is the first Korea-built eco-friendly smart ship, featuring 4 core ITC convergence technologies, an integrated control system (providing functions for optimal route recommendations) and remote control that supports the operation and monitoring. They'll also incorporate a smart maintenance function to self-diagnose aging equipment in the ship.
The boat is scheduled for delivery in October 2022. Initial plans call for the vessel to operate off the coast of Ulsan, South Korea.