HD Hyundai’s autonomous navigation subsidiary, Avikus, has achieved a significant milestone by securing type approval from Norway-based classification society DNV for its advanced **HiNAS Control** system. This crucial certification paves the way for the widespread commercialization of cutting-edge **autonomous navigation solutions** in the global maritime industry.
The **HiNAS Control system** represents a revolutionary step in **smart ship technology**. It seamlessly integrates perception, sophisticated decision-making, and precise control capabilities, empowering vessels to accurately detect surrounding ships and obstacles, meticulously assess marine conditions, and autonomously execute collision avoidance maneuvers.
Notably, this DNV approval marks the world’s first for a mass-producible **autonomous navigation system** engineered for broad application across diverse vessel types. This landmark approval streamlines installation processes by eliminating the need for additional verification, thereby significantly enhancing deployment efficiency and bolstering confidence among **global shipowners** looking to adopt **advanced maritime solutions**.
Avikus collaborated intensively with DNV for over three years to meticulously define stringent safety requirements and establish a robust verification framework. The **HiNAS Control system** underwent rigorous testing across various challenging conditions, including nighttime operations and adverse weather, with its **collision avoidance** capabilities thoroughly evaluated against international maritime regulations.
This pioneering verification framework is anticipated to serve as a vital reference for developing future **global standards** in **autonomous shipping**, especially as the industry currently lacks unified guidelines. Furthermore, as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) progresses discussions on its **Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) code**, the findings from this collaboration are expected to inform and shape future technical standards.
Vidar Dolonen, DNV’s Regional Manager for Korea and Japan, emphasized the profound impact of this achievement, stating that the approval signifies a pivotal transition of **autonomous navigation** from a conceptual stage to practical commercialization.
“This certification unequivocally validates the **HiNAS Control system’s** safety and reliability on a global scale,” affirmed Avikus CEO Lim Do-hyung. He further added that Avikus is committed to accelerating the system’s commercialization and actively contributing to the establishment of definitive international standards for **autonomous maritime technology**.
Demonstrating its market readiness and acceptance, the **HiNAS Control system** has been adopted as a standard feature on all HD Hyundai-built vessels since 2023. To date, Avikus has secured impressive cumulative orders for more than 500 ships, underscoring its leadership in the **autonomous shipping market**.
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