Maritime Industry Pioneers AI-Driven Autonomous Navigation as Global Shipping Transforms
Hyundai Glovis leads world-first deployment of AI-controlled car carriers while Chinese automaker BYD expands autonomous-ready fleet
The maritime shipping industry is experiencing a technological revolution as South Korea's Hyundai Glovis becomes the first company globally to deploy artificial intelligence-based autonomous navigation systems across its fleet of car carriers, while Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD simultaneously expands its own revolutionary fleet of ultra-large vehicle transport ships.
Hyundai Glovis Breaks New Ground with AI Navigation
In a landmark development announced July 9, 2025, Hyundai Glovis signed a contract with Avikus, an HD Hyundai subsidiary specializing in autonomous vessel technology, to retrofit seven pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) with AI-driven autonomous navigation systems by the first half of 2026. The initiative represents the industry's first fleet-wide PCTC deployment of autonomous navigation technology.
The 229.9-meter-long Sunrise, with its 7,000-vehicle capacity, will become the world's first vessel to feature such advanced AI-driven capabilities. The ships will be equipped with Avikus' Level-2 Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) platform, known as HiNAS Control (Hyundai Intelligent Navigation Assistant System).
Proven Performance Results
The decision follows successful pilot operations in 2024, where HiNAS Control demonstrated fuel-saving performance of up to 3.9% through enhanced voyage-planning accuracy and AI-based collision-avoidance support. The system fuses sensor and voyage data in real-time, utilizing machine-learning algorithms to provide decision support for collision avoidance, route optimization, and track control.
"Embracing AI is central to Hyundai Glovis' vision of a smarter, global logistics network that meets environmental standards," said Jungsuk Kim, VP of Hyundai Glovis' Shipping Division. The company has committed 9 trillion won ($6.5 billion) in investment through 2030 as part of its transformation into a smart logistics solutions company.
BYD's Autonomous-Ready Fleet Expansion
Simultaneously, China's BYD is revolutionizing automotive logistics with the world's largest fleet of roll-on/roll-off (RORO) car carriers. The BYD Shenzhen, at 219 meters long and with a capacity of 9,200 vehicles, currently holds the title as the world's largest automotive RORO ship. The vessel uses dual-fuel technology, allowing it to run on marine diesel and LNG, and features BYD's own battery packs.
Strategic Fleet Development
BYD's maritime expansion is driven by explosive growth in electric vehicle exports. The company sold approximately 455,000 vehicles in 2019, surging to 740,000 units in 2021 and more than doubling to 1.9 million in 2022. Overseas shipments surged 124% year-over-year to 133,361 vehicles in Q1 2025, with the company set to export 800,000 vehicles globally this year.
BYD plans to operate seven RORO ships over the next two years, with the fleet including:
- BYD Explorer No.1 (7,000 vehicle capacity, delivered January 2024)
- BYD Changzhou (7,000 vehicle capacity, delivered December 2024)
- BYD Hefei (7,000 vehicle capacity, launched January 2025)
- BYD Shenzhen (9,200 vehicle capacity, launched January 2025)
- BYD Changsha (9,200 vehicle capacity, launched April 2025)
- BYD Xi'an (launched April 2025)
The company estimates that per-vehicle shipping expenses drop 30% to 40% with its own fleet, potentially saving up to $1.4 billion annually.
Regulatory Framework Development
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is actively developing regulatory frameworks to support autonomous shipping deployment. IMO is crafting a new, non-mandatory maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) code for adoption as early as 2025, with a mandatory version expected by 2032.
The IMO MASS code is expected to be ready for voluntary use in 2025, with an experience-building phase from 2026 to 2028 for development of the mandatory code. Key agreements include the need for a human master to be responsible for an autonomous vessel, though the master may not need to be on board but must have means to intervene when necessary.
Industry-Wide Technology Adoption
Beyond Hyundai Glovis, Avikus has secured significant commercial contracts. H-Line Shipping signed a contract to deploy HiNAS Control on 30 vessels, starting with five ships for initial validation before expanding fleet-wide. Earlier demonstrations showed Avikus' system can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15% on a 9,334-kilometer route between Singapore and Brazil.
Safety and Environmental Benefits
AI-powered autonomous navigation is part of broader industry strategies to meet decarbonization goals set by the International Maritime Organization, with early estimates suggesting 5% to 15% fuel consumption reduction depending on route conditions.
Future Outlook
The convergence of autonomous navigation technology and expanding shipping capacity represents a fundamental shift in maritime logistics. Industry observers note that "autonomy will not arrive because the IMO declares it so. It will force its way in, driven by real-world economics of crew shortages, safety demands and tightening emissions targets".
As Hyundai Glovis deploys the world's first AI-controlled autonomous car carriers and BYD operates the largest vehicle transport ships ever built, the maritime industry stands at the threshold of a new era where artificial intelligence and advanced logistics capabilities reshape global trade routes and supply chain efficiency.
The success of these pioneering deployments will likely accelerate broader industry adoption, potentially transforming maritime logistics from a traditionally human-operated sector into one defined by AI-enhanced efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability.
Sources
- KED Global - "Hyundai Glovis charts new waters with world's first AI-driven self-sailing car carrier fleet" (July 11, 2025)
URL: https://www.kedglobal.com/corporate-strategy/newsView/ked202507110009 - Travel and Tour World - "Hyundai Glovis Launches World's First Autonomous AI Driven Car Carriers Fleet" (July 2025)
URL: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/hyundai-glovis-launches-worlds-first-autonomous-ai-driven-car-carriers-fleet-here-is-what-you-should-know-about-it-now/ - Offshore Energy - "Hyundai Glovis to deploy Avikus' AI-driven autonomous navigation on seven PCTCs" (July 2025)
URL: https://www.offshore-energy.biz/hyundai-glovis-to-deploy-avikus-ai-driven-autonomous-navigation-on-seven-pctcs/ - Avikus Official Press Release - "Hyundai Glovis Selects Avikus' AI-Powered HiNAS Control for Retrofit of Seven PCTCs" (July 9, 2025)
URL: https://avikus.ai/en-us/press/hyundai-glovis-selects-avikus-ai-powered-hinas-control-forretrofit-of-seven-pctcs-advancing-digital-transformation-and-supporting-carbon-reduction-goals - Lloyd's List - "Hyundai Glovis to operate world's first PCTCs fitted with autonomous navigation systems" (July 2025)
URL: https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1154203/Hyundai-Glovis-to-operate-world%E2%80%99s-first-PCTCs-fitted-with-autonomous-navigation-systems - Offshore Energy - "BYD: One LNG-powered RoRo newbuild launches, another sets on maiden voyage" (April 7, 2025)
URL: https://www.offshore-energy.biz/byd-one-lng-powered-roro-newbuild-launches-another-sets-on-maiden-voyage/ - Electrive - "BYD's fourth car carrier ship is the largest to date" (May 6, 2025)
URL: https://www.electrive.com/2025/01/20/byds-fourth-car-carrier-ship-is-the-largest-to-date/ - CnEVPost - "BYD Shenzhen, world's largest car carrier, ready for operation" (January 17, 2025)
URL: https://cnevpost.com/2025/01/17/byd-shenzhen-car-carrier-ready-operation/ - Fast Company - "Why BYD just built the world's largest car carrier ship" (April 27, 2025)
URL: https://www.fastcompany.com/91323170/byd-worlds-largest-car-carrier-ship-explosive-growth - Global Times - "BYD will operate 7 ro-ro ships to expand NEV exports in coming two years" (February 2024)
URL: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202402/1307230.shtml - International Maritime Organization - "Autonomous shipping" (Official IMO Position)
URL: https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/hottopics/pages/autonomous-shipping.aspx - Maritime Executive - "IMO Moves Ahead With Voluntary Rules for Autonomous Ships"
URL: https://maritime-executive.com/article/imo-moves-ahead-with-voluntary-rules-for-autonomous-ships - DNV - "Regulatory framework for autonomous shipping"
URL: https://www.dnv.com/maritime/autonomous-remotely-operated-ships/regulatory/ - Cyprus Shipping News - "Autonomous ships will be a reality long before the industry is ready" (July 17, 2025)
URL: https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/07/17/autonomous-ships-will-be-a-reality-long-before-the-industry-is-ready-and-thats-a-good-thing/ - Avikus Press Release - "HD Hyundai's Avikus supplies autonomous navigation solutions to a large fleet of 30 vessels" (February 9, 2025)
URL: https://avikus.ai/en-us/press/hd-hyundais-avikus-supplies-autonomous-navigation-solutions-to-a-large-fleet-of-30-vessels
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