Hanjin Heavy delivers safety-certified autonomous vessels

Built in collaboration with Alpha Ori Technology, the two ‘AL-SAFE’ vessels delivered by Hanjin Heavy to Global United in Korea have been certified as safe by Lloyd’s Register’s cyber notations.    Hanjin Heavy Industries, in collaboration with Alpha Ori Technology, has built the first ships to be classified with Lloyd’s Register’s cyber notations, certifying the autonomous systems onboard the vessels are safe.
   The vessels were delivered to Global United Gas Carriers in Korea earlier this month.
   These vessels are “the first real example of the digital transformation in shipping – the ships will operate in an autonomous mode for selected functions using cutting edge digital technology,” said Lloyd’s Register.
   “The new cyber-enabled features allow crew to operate ships more efficiently. This is also the first example of a ship certified to stream data into a big data platform.”
   Alpha Ori Technology enabled the autonomous systems to operate with a level of automation to varying degrees to minimize human error and maximize efficiency and safety, the firm said.
   Lloyd’s Register provided independent assurance services to the Hyundai Heavy and Alpha Ori Technology, certifying the systems are safe, including certifying the navigation, cargo and machinery systems as AL2, which means “systems provide on and off-ship decision support for operators” and certifying the air handling unit as AL3, which means “systems that operate autonomously, but with an active human ‘in-the-loop.’”
   The AL2 certification provides “operators and shore-based support staff with instant access to operating data from these systems for monitoring and diagnostics through the cloud, with which they can make more informed decisions and respond to issues faster and more efficiently,” according to Lloyd’s Register.
    And the AL3 certification indicates that “the system continuously monitors operational information from fire and gas systems, cargo systems and navigational positioning systems and then uses this information to automatically adjust the unit’s operating parameters to maintain a safe and comfortable environment within the accommodation space,” the firm said.
   “We, Global United Gas Carriers Pte. Ltd., wish to thank Alpha Ori team for delivering the SMARTShip technology to our vessel, the Trammo Dietlin, and Lloyd’s Register for their assessment and assigned class notation of – Cyber (AL-SAFE),” added Tatsuya Okamoto of Mitsui & Co., on behalf of Global United Gas Carriers. “It was a matter of great pride for Global United that its vessel was the first ship in the world to achieve this autonomous level of certification.”