From On-Site Communication to Quality Inspections, K-Shipbuilding Gathers AX Ideas

[Financial News] Combining communication data from shipyard sites and building up evidence for decisions in ship-paint inspections: these are AX (AI transformation) proposals for the shipbuilding industry put forward by university and graduate students from across the country. As HD KSOE, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries—the industry’s three shipbuilders—pursue AI-based automation, the hackathon brought together students’ creative ideas.
KOSHIPA, led by Lee Sang-kyun, vice chairman overseeing the shipbuilding division at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology held the K-Shipbuilding Hackathon on the 10th, with the industry’s three shipbuilders, the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, and the Korean Society of Naval Architects taking part. A total of 190 teams from across the country competed on the theme of AX solutions for greater intelligence and automation in the shipbuilding industry; 15 teams advanced to the finals and won awards.
The OVOT team, which won the Grand Prize—the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award—presented an AX platform to integrate communication data from shipyard sites. The solution is designed to prevent information from being lost or production processes delayed because of communication breakdowns on site.
The Puing-i’s Dojang Kkaegi team, which received the Excellence Award presented by the president of the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology, proposed a support system for ship quality inspections. It records the grounds for decisions in ship-paint inspections to help ensure more accurate inspections.
The Anamgol Gongjeong Master team, which proposed using AI to respond to design changes by tracking how they are reflected in production for each vessel in a series, won the HD KSOE CEO Award. The Jeokjaejeokso team, which proposed a system to automate block stacking and explain its rationale using large language model (LLM) AI, won the Hanwha Ocean CEO Award. The Guardians team, which proposed a system to support advance reviews of technical materials before they are taken off-site, won the Samsung Heavy Industries CEO Award.
“The starting point for AX in shipbuilding is not AI technology, but understanding problems on the shop floor and identifying challenges to solve,” said Oh Chung-jong, vice chairman of KOSHIPA. “The K-Shipbuilding Hackathon is a venue that connects young people’s fresh perspectives with industry experience and seeks practical solutions for greater intelligence and automation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the three shipbuilders are extending automation, which has focused on welding, to fit-up, logistics, painting and other areas. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is increasing its use of Physical AI and robots to raise automation levels, currently about 75% for indoor work and 15% for outdoor work. Hanwha Ocean has raised AX adoption in indoor welding processes to 67%, while Samsung Heavy Industries has put into operation an automated plant that integrates the entire pipe-spool production process.

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter