Conquering 'silent' ship technology! South Korea's shipbuilding industry is seizing the future market

Following the independent research and development of a series of core technologies, including independently sailing vessels, alternative fuel power systems, and digital ships, the South Korean shipbuilding industry is accelerating the commercialization of low-noise ship technology to ensure market competitiveness and consolidate its global leading position in the shipbuilding and marine industry.

On August 18, the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) and the Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Future Technology Institute, the shipbuilding business holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, held their third technical cooperation meeting in Daejeon.

More than 20 executives from various technical fields from both sides, led by Kim Boo-ki, director of KRISO, and Kim Seong-jun, president of the Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Future Technology Institute, attended the meeting. This is the third technical cooperation meeting following those in 2019 and 2020, aiming to share their respective technologies and major research findings, collaborate to create joint achievements, and ensure the technological competitiveness and industrial development of South Korea's shipbuilding and marine sector.

In particular, at this meeting, both sides shared the results of their joint research and development of "vessel underwater radiated noise detection and noise reduction technology" since the first technical cooperation meeting in 2019.

Underwater radiated noise (Vessel’s Underwater Radiated Noise) refers to the noise generated by mechanical equipment and propulsion systems on board ships and transmitted into the water. Along with ship exhaust and wastewater, it is considered one of the main sources of marine pollution from ships. Controlling underwater radiated noise is crucial for certain ship types.

With the increase in maritime transport volume in recent years, and the development of ships towards larger sizes and higher speeds, the problem of underwater radiated noise caused by ships has become increasingly serious, directly affecting the auditory systems, behavior, and even survival of marine species such as fish and marine mammals, causing irreversible damage to fish diversity and underwater ecosystems. To this end, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is discussing the reduction of underwater radiated noise from ships and plans to develop substantial restrictive measures.

Especially with the changes in the global maritime industry, represented by decarbonization and digital transformation, relevant research is also actively underway. KRISO conducted research on vessel underwater radiated noise detection and noise reduction technology using ships built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, and the noise reduction effect has been verified and has been included in the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority's "EcoAction" list.

In addition, with the technical support provided by KRISO in this field, ships built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Group have received low-noise ship certifications from DNV and Lloyd's Register (LR). Among them, on March 31, 2021, the 115,000-ton petroleum product carrier "Onex Peace" built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard was successfully delivered. This is also the world's first commercial ship to receive the DNV vessel underwater radiated noise SILENT-E certification. For a long time, underwater radiated noise certification has only been applicable to low-noise vessels for special purposes such as research vessels and passenger ships. This is the first time a regular commercial ship in South Korea has received this certification.

Both sides stated that the jointly developed vessel underwater radiated noise detection and noise reduction technology is expected to become a technology for South Korea to respond to the IMO's additional marine environmental protection restrictions at the national level in the future.

It is reported that the joint research and development of "vessel underwater radiated noise detection and noise reduction technology" has received strong support from the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and will receive 5.8 billion won (approximately US$4.9 million) in national research funding before 2023. KRISO plans to cooperate with the government's policy of private sector-led economic growth to popularize and promote its research results through continued cooperation with enterprises. Core to this, South Korean shipbuilding companies including Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard participated in the development of this technology.

It is worth mentioning that, in order to lead the rapidly changing shipbuilding and marine industry in the future and ensure market competitiveness, both sides have also decided to "lend a helping hand" in the development of environmentally friendly and digital technologies, including independently sailing vessels, low-vibration and low-noise high-efficiency vessels, composite material propellers, alternative fuel power systems, electric propulsion systems, and ice sea test tank performance evaluation, as well as large-scale research infrastructure.

In addition, to seize future markets, both sides will also conduct close cooperation in emerging fields such as small modular reactors (SMRs) for the shipbuilding and marine industry, new concept energy-saving devices (ESD), liquid hydrogen marine supply chains, ocean carbon capture and storage (CCS), and offshore launch platforms, striving to enhance the global status of South Korea's shipbuilding and marine industry.

Kim Boo-ki said at the meeting: "The development of the shipbuilding and marine industry is one of the major driving forces for South Korea's economic growth. To support private enterprises in enhancing their technological competitiveness, we will continue to strengthen our core original technologies and industrial support capabilities." Kim Seong-jun said: "We expect that through continued research cooperation with KRISO, we will lead the global future shipbuilding and marine industry market and raise our technological competitiveness to a new level." (Wang Chu)