[E-Daily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] The automation of logistics processes—which have relied on manual labor right up to the very end at shipyards—is set to move full steam ahead. The key objective is to boost production efficiency by automating the transport and stacking of small components and sub-blocks using robots and digital twin technology.

According to industry sources on the 5th, SamsungHeavyIndustries(010140)recently began work on “Development of Intelligent Logistics Management Technology for Flexible Production Systems of Medium- and Large-Sized Vessels,” a government-funded project under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Technology Development Program. The total research and development (R&D) budget is approximately 26 billion won, of which 20 billion won is government funding. The research period runs from April 2026 to December 2030.

Shipyard Logistics Automation Rate at ‘0%’… Targeting Bottlenecks in Sub-assembly Processes

This project targets the logistics sector—the area of in-shop processes at large shipyards where automation has progressed the slowest. According to the consortium’s assessment, while the automation rate for in-shop processes at major domestic shipyards has risen to about 60%, the automation rate for logistics—specifically the transport and stacking of cut small components and small sub-blocks—remains virtually at 0%.

Shipyards still rely on workers using manual cranes and forklifts to sort and load irregular small components ranging from 6 to 40 mm in thickness and weighing 20 to 150 kg. This process leads to variations in work quality depending on skill level, misrouting, pallet damage, and safety risks associated with handling heavy loads.

In particular, the small assembly block production process is considered a critical stage, accounting for approximately 30% of the total assembly process duration and about 25% of the total cost. Improving logistics efficiency in this segment directly impacts the shipyard’s overall productivity and cost competitiveness.

Deployment of

Gantry Robots, AMRs, and Digital Twins… Pilot Testing at Two Major Shipyards

The goal of this project is to develop AI-based intelligent logistics management technology applicable to the stages before and after the sub-assembly process and to validate it at

two

major shipyards.

The technologies to be developed include gantry robots for the automatic sorting and palletizing of cut small components; a smart rack system for variably stacking small components and small assembly blocks according to their shapes; 1.5-metric-ton autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for transporting small components; 10-metric-ton AMRs for transporting small assembly blocks; and a digital twin-based integrated management system. The project also includes the establishment of safety standards for intelligent unmanned logistics systems and the development of testing and verification procedures.

Participants in the consortium include the lead organization, SamsungHeavyIndustries, as well as Hanwha Ocean(042660), SP SYSTEMS CO.,LTD.(317830), Allforland, Gore Robotics, Dongguk University, the Pohang Research Institute of Science and Technology (RIST), the Korean Register of Shipping, the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), and the Korea Small and Medium Shipbuilding Research Institute.

SamsungHeavyIndustries and Hanwha Ocean are participating in on-site demonstrations at actual shipyards, while the various specialized companies and institutions are dividing up the development of specific technologies, such as robots, smart racks, digital twins, and safety verification.

SP SYSTEMS CO.,LTD. will handle the logistics equipment sector, including the integration of smart racks and cranes, while Allforland will be responsible for the digital twin-based integrated management system. Gore Robotics will lead the development of 1.5-metric-ton and 10-metric-ton AMRs, as well as autonomous driving technology tailored specifically for shipyards. The Korean Register of Shipping and KTCorporation, among others, will participate in testing, verification, and the establishment of safety standards to lay the groundwork for future standardization.

Unlike general manufacturing plants, shipyards feature materials of varying sizes and shapes, along with numerous variables such as dust, fluctuating lighting conditions, and communication dead zones. The 10-metric-ton AMR must coordinate with overhead cranes in real time to precisely navigate to and align with loading/unloading points. The consortium also plans to develop swarm navigation—where multiple AMRs move simultaneously—collision avoidance based on vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and technology for the joint transport of large structural components.
10%

Increase in Productivity, 15% Reduction in Costs… Laying the Groundwork for an Unmanned Shipyard

Through this technology development, the consortium has set a goal of increasing the productivity of small assembly blocks by 10% and reducing production costs by 15%. To achieve this, the consortium plans to reduce the palletizing time for small components by gantry robots to 40 seconds or less and develop 1.5-metric-ton AMRs capable of carrying up to 1,500 kg and 10-metric-ton AMRs capable of carrying up to 10,000 kg. Additionally, the consortium will implement technology to operate up to eight AMRs simultaneously.

This project is expected to serve as a watershed moment in the transformation of shipbuilding production methods. Despite a recovery in orders, the domestic shipbuilding industry is facing worsening shortages of skilled workers, an aging workforce, and a growing reluctance to perform high-risk tasks. While automation has traditionally focused on individual processes such as welding and cutting, there is a growing consensus that productivity can only be increased by intelligently optimizing logistics between processes as well.

An industry official stated, “Shipyard logistics is a field where automation is extremely challenging due to the complex working environment and the heavy components handled,” adding, “Through this project, we will be able to resolve logistics bottlenecks in the sub-assembly process and secure the core foundational technologies needed to realize a 24-hour unmanned shipyard.”