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HD Hyundai's Avikus wins global certification for autonomous navigation

Published: 07 Apr. 2026, 18:30

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Vice Chairman Lee Sang-kyun, left, Avikus CEO Lim Do-hyeong, center, and regional manager for Korea and Japan at DNV, Vidar Dolonen, pose for a photo. [HD HYUNDAI]

HD Hyundai’s autonomous ship navigation subsidiary Avikus has secured a global classification certification for its autonomous navigation system, the parent company said Tuesday.

This marks the first time that a mass-produced autonomous navigation system, applicable across various types of vessels rather than a single ship or project, has received international certification.

The ship manufacturing company obtained type approval from Det Norske Veritas (DNV), the Norwegian classification society, for its autonomous navigation system, HiNAS Control.

Type approval is a certification system in which government or private institutions verify that a product meets technical standards and safety requirements. In the global shipbuilding industry, DNV, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Lloyd’s Register (LR) are regarded as authoritative international classification bodies.

HiNAS Control is an integrated autonomous navigation system that combines perception, decision-making and control functions. It enables vessels to recognize surrounding ships and obstacles, assess navigation conditions and avoid collisions.

The type approval is expected to lay the foundation for expanding HiNAS Control into the global market, as DNV’s certification can serve as assurance for overseas shipowners considering adoption of the solution, thereby enhancing trust.

Avikus worked closely with DNV for more than three years to jointly define safety requirements and establish a verification framework for the system. DNV systematically evaluated the technology’s ability to detect surrounding vessels and obstacles under various conditions, including nighttime and adverse weather, as well as its collision-avoidance capabilities in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

The verification framework and evaluation criteria established through this process could also influence the development of international standards. The International Maritime Organization is currently working on the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Code, and the outcome of this approval may help set detailed technical standards.

HiNAS Control was introduced as a standard feature on ships built by HD Hyundai in 2023 and has since secured cumulative orders for over 500 vessels.

“This type approval demonstrates that Avikus’ autonomous navigation technology has been recognized globally for its safety and reliability,” Avikus CEO Lim Do-hyeong said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LEE SU-JEONG [[email protected]]