HD Hyundai has opened a joint research center with Siemens in Busan to accelerate shipbuilding's digital transformation, aiming to cut construction time and boost productivity through AI-powered design and virtual shipyard technology.
The Global Marine Center, inaugurated Tuesday in Haeundae-gu, Busan, will bring together 50 specialists from both companies in ship design, electrical systems, piping, artificial intelligence and product lifecycle management.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering CEO Kim Hyung-kwan and Siemens Chief Revenue Officer Robert Jones attended the opening ceremony.
The center will develop a marine platform that integrates data across ship design, construction and maintenance into 3D digital models. It will also support virtual shipyards where production processes and equipment operations can be simulated and tested before real-world deployment, reducing costs and operational risks.
HD Hyundai's Global R&D Center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, will lead technology development, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan shipyard and HD Hyundai Samho's Yeongam shipyard in Jeonnam-Gwangju will test the platform's performance and effectiveness.
"The marine platform will improve shipyard productivity and competitiveness by enabling digital validation of ship design and production processes," Kim said. "We plan to accelerate the development of intelligent shipyards by combining HD Hyundai's shipbuilding expertise with Siemens' digital capabilities through the Global Marine Center."
Jones highlighted shipbuilding's complexity and its potential to benefit from digital technologies, pledging long-term cooperation with HD Hyundai.
The center builds on a definitive agreement signed in July to jointly develop a digital platform connecting ship design, production, supply chain management, quality control and maintenance.
The initiative is part of HD Hyundai's broader Future of Shipyard project, which aims to establish intelligent, autonomous shipyards by 2030, cutting shipbuilding time by 30 percent while increasing productivity by 30 percent.
jyoungseon8@heraldcorp.com
