ClassNK to assess AI-driven vessel fuel, GHG savings

Samsung’s SAS system will power autonomous navigation.

ClassNK has joined a project to verify fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from an AI-based autonomous navigation system in actual vessel operations.

The project will use a commercial vessel operated by Evergreen Marine Corporation, Samsung Heavy Industries’ Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS) system and meteorological and oceanographic data from Weathernews.

The parties will analyse vessel operating data and fuel consumption to assess whether AI-based voyage optimisation reduces fuel use and GHG emissions under real operating conditions.

ClassNK will review the verification methodology and independently evaluate the results to ensure the findings are objective and credible.

ClassNK, Evergreen, Samsung Heavy Industries and Weathernews signed a memorandum of understanding at Evergreen’s headquarters to establish the project framework.

The project addresses the need for reliable methods to measure the effectiveness of voyage optimisation technologies, whose performance can vary depending on weather, sea conditions, vessel conditions and operational requirements.

The four parties will combine their expertise to verify fuel and GHG reductions from voyage optimisation technology integrating autonomous navigation with weather and ocean data.