M.AX Alliance to accelerate autonomous ship tech dev’t with South Korean operations

Korea unites shipbuilding and AI sectors under autonomous initiative.

The M.AX (Manufacturing AX) Alliance for Autonomous Ships has entered full operation in South Korea, aiming to accelerate the development and demonstration of autonomous ship technologies by uniting the shipbuilding, shipping, and AI sectors.

The alliance also seeks to create a shared data foundation and cooperative demonstration framework to secure technological leadership ahead of anticipated International Maritime Organization standards around 2030.

Substantial progress under Phase I of the Autonomous Ship Technology Development initiative has been achieved, whilst acquiring and sharing real-world demonstration data is a priority for Phase II development.

Guided by three pillars—Speed, Engagement, and Alliance (S.E.A.)—the alliance emphasises rapid technology development, broad industrial collaboration, and shared growth within the maritime industry.

In line with this effort, the Korea Planning and Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology and the Korea Ocean Business Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to foster an AI-based autonomous ship ecosystem.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will also launch demonstration projects next year to build the world’s largest public dataset for AI training in autonomous ship technologies.

They further plan to develop AI-enabled, fully autonomous ships.

“Autonomous ships are one of the most promising areas for delivering tangible outcomes under the M.AX strategy. By combining world-class shipbuilding technologies with AI, Korea can lead the next-generation shipbuilding and shipping markets,” said Minister Jung-Kwan Kim of MOTIR.