KRISO receives AiP from ABS for Hydrogen Production Platform□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO, President Keyyong Hong) reported on July 20, 2023 that KRISO had acquired Approval in Principle (AIP) for its hydrogen production platform from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). □ The hydrogen production platform developed by KRISO, an eco-friendly platform for producing green hydrogen utilizing the electric power generated from renewable ocean energy, consists of ▲ a desalination system for converting sea water to fresh water, ▲ an electrolysis system for producing hydrogen through water electrolysis, ▲ a compression system for compressing the produced hydrogen, and ▲ a compressed hydrogen storage system for storing the compressed hydrogen.<concept drawing="" of="" the="" hydrogen="" production="" platform=""></concept>□ The AIP acquired from ABS officially certified the safety and feasibility of the concepts of the hydrogen production platform systems developed by KRISO.□ As the international community is intensifying greenhouse gas emission reduction targets or relevant regulations, non-carbon fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen are rapidly emerging as next-generation eco-friendly energy resources.□ In particular, hydrogen is drawing much attention as a carbon-free and pollution-free fuel. As hydrogen is applicable to various industries, including ships, automobiles, trains, and power generation, demand is expected to grow rapidly.□ Most of the currently produced hydrogen is gray hydrogen, which is extracted by a reaction of natural gas with high-temperature and high-pressure steam or which is incidentally produced from the petrochemical processes. Therefore, carbon dioxide is also emitted in the production procedures.□ On the other hand, the ocean renewable energy-based green hydrogen is produced utilizing electricity generated from eco-friendly ocean energy sources such as offshore wind power and wave power. This allows for the production of clean hydrogen without carbon emissions.□ In addition, a large-scale hydrogen production complex can be formed by utilizing extensive offshore space resources. Wind power is particularly useful in the production of large amounts of hydrogen, because wind speed and wind power density are more favorable to hydrogen production on the sea than on the ground.□ KRISO has joined in the UBJIP* for the development of the international standards for offshore plants, making efforts in joint research on and the preparation of international standards for hydrogen production platforms. For more efficient transportation of produced hydrogen, KRISO is actively conducting R&D work on an offshore platform for converting hydrogen to ammonia and liquid hydrogen.* UBJIP (Unified Bulk Joint Industry Project): A consortium established in 2015 for preparing international standards for offshore plants, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, classification societies (DNV·ABS·BV·LR), KRISO, Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association, and Fire Insurers Laboratories of Korea.□ Meanwhile, KRISO has made earnest efforts to develop technologies for utilizing various non-carbon fuels by ▲ acquiring AIP for a liquid hydrogen fuel tank from the Korean Register (KR) and developing the new tank technology selected by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, ▲ acquiring AIP for the ammonia supply system of ammonia tankers from Loyd’s Register (LR), and ▲ acquiring AIP for LNG fueled container ships from LR. Furthermore, KRISO has recently begun the collaboration with ABS to develop technologies for methanol fueled ships.□ KRISO’s President Keyyong Hong said, “As the global energy supply system is shifting from the conventional fossil fuels to eco-friendly renewable energy sources, we at KRISO will do our best to develop technologies for the ocean renewable energy-based production of clean hydrogen. We will continuously make efforts to develop technologies related to various non-carbon fuels and provide support to the industry.”

KRISO Starts Full-scale Operation of its Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (President Hong Key Yong, hereafter “KRISO”) announced its plans to commence full-scale operation of the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center, located at Goneuljigu, Ulsan, starting H2 2023, to perform on-land and off-shore performance validations of autonomous ships.< Test Vessel for Autonomous Ship Offshore Test Bed (Haeyangnuri-ho) >□ Autonomous vessels are the next-generation of value-added ships, which converge integrated digital technology, such as big data, AI, and advanced sensors to autonomously navigate via optimal routes, without the intervention of a human crew. This in turn improves the economic feasibility and stability as incidents based on human errors are prevented. Recognized as a future growth engine of the shipbuilding and maritime sector, in addition to eco-friendly ships, nations around the world are doubling down on their technology R&D efforts to secure global leadership positions.< Front view of the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center >□ KRISO has been engaged in the autonomous ship technology development project since 2020, with the aim to deliver IMO Level 3 autonomous navigation technology, which shall allow remote operations of unmanned vessels.□ As efforts towards the implementation of autonomous ships became more tangible, KRISO rolled out its offshore test bed vessel ‘Haeyangnuri-ho’ and the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center last year. The Center is equipped with core technologies, including a simulation-based test bed, digital twin bridge / engine monitoring system, and an integrated control system, and carries out performance demonstrations for the assessment of core technologies for autonomous ships.□ The simulation-based test bed provides an operational environment for autonomous ships with scenarios that cannot be recreated on real waters to perform performance tests. The facility allows analysis of various situations prior to real water tests. □ Moreover, the digital twin bridge / engine monitoring system allows real-time monitoring of the operational and engine states of autonomous ships while testing on real waters. It also supports safe real-water testing by implementing an integrated control system, which monitors real-time key navigation information and the navigational route of the test vessel, and prevents collisions by tracing and forecasting the routes.< Test Tank for model ships with a safe navigation algorithm >□ To date, KRISO has conducted performance tests of model ships at its Ocean Engineering Basin and reservoirs. Starting H2 of this year, it will roll out full-fledged performance validations of the core autonomous ship technologies, including a situation awareness system for preventing test ship collisions and incidents in the offshore environment, an intelligent autonomous navigation system that creates and determines various navigational routes, and a remote control system that allows on-land control of the vessels in case of emergencies. □ KRISO President Hong Key Yong reiterated his plans to “fully rollout performance validations of test ships, mainly at the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center, to build on their track record, and play a key role in framing global standards by leading the development of autonomous ship technologies.”

KRISO Spurs Technological Development to Usher in an Era of Smart Maritime Transportation□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (President Hong Key Yong, hereafter 'KRISO') announced its successful development of the Smart Aids to Navigation Service, a technology aimed to ensure safe ship navigation, and completion of its open-water demonstration test in Singapore.< Conceptual diagram of Smart Aids to Navigation System >□ Typically, the term navigational aids (such as lighthouses, light marks, light buoys, and beacons) refers to devices or facilities that facilitate marine traffic by indicating dangers of obstacles or reefs, or by providing information for navigation. Ships determine their navigational routes based on the location, shape and color of the navigational aids and real-time information on marine weather. □ However, challenges remain in timely updating of ships regarding the status information of the navigational aids, such as failures, new installments or terminations, as well as allowing adequate checks on frequent changes of the aids and other necessary information with conventional electronic charts.□ In response, KRISO continues its research on marine information management and service technology, based on information collected from navgational aids. The technology also enables timely checking of changes in navigational aids via on-vessel navigation systems and supports safe navigation of ships by providing virtual navigational aids in sea areas that do not allow the physical installation of such aids.□ With the aim to verify compliance of the service's navaid information management, exchange, and servicing processes against international standards, KRISO conducted an open-water demonstration test in Singapore, as well as successfully validating its navaid-based navigational warning and change notification service using land and ship navigation systems.□ Based on the results of the open-water test, KRISO plans to collaborate with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), in their efforts to develop international standards and service standards in navigational aid information, which in turn would enable Korean technology to lead the world in standardization.□ KRISO's Chief Researcher Oh Sewoong explained, “as navigational aids are essential in ensuring safe navigation of ships, we will continue to witness an increasing demand in credible navaid information and expansive marine information as next-generation electronic charts or autonomous vessels continue their entry in the future.” He further expressed his commitment to “creating a safer and more convenient marine transportation environment by continuously engaging in research and development of navigational aids and marine transportation and safety technologies.” □ Furthermore, KRISO plans to play a critical role in the digital transformation of the marine sector as a leading R&D instutition for core service technologies, such as by revamping the integrated information collaboation system to standardize and digitalize currently dispersed information and data on navigational aids, marine traffic, and marine weather, and initiating a project to build an information service system that leverages big data collected from the Smart Aids to Navigation System, which is much needed in the ever-changing marine traffic environment.

KRISO Leads Rotor Sail Technology, a New Sail Concept▶ Development of a magnetic bearing-based rotor sail technology with reduced noise and vibration▶ Obtained approval in principal (AIP) from Korean Register of Shipping (KR)▶ To be published in International Maritime Organization (IMO) fact sheet, promoting technical excellence of Korea □ A new technology to lead the era of eco-friendly ships has been developed.< Structural design of a magnetic bearing-based rotor sail >□ Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (hereafter " KRISO", President Hong Key Yong) announced that it has developed a rotor sail technology based on a magnetic bearing for the first time in the world.□ A rotor sail refers to a cylindrical structure installed on the deck of a ship to act as a supporting propulsion device that allows the vessel to obtain additional propulsion force based on the Magnus effect caused by the wind and the rotation of the cylinder while navigating.□ Rotor sails can be readily installed on ships that are currently in operation. As it is regarded in the shipbuilding and shipping sectors that the technology will reduce fuel (6~8%) and carbon emissions when implemented on ships, it continues to gain more attention as an alternative response to stricter regulations on carbon emissions of ships.□ However, commercially available rotor sails are based on mechanical bearings that rotate the rotors, which have the disadvantages of noise, vibration, and reduced efficiency due to the consequent friction.□ In contrast, the magnetic bearing-based rotor sail developed by KRISO allows non-contact support of bearings and rotors, drastically reducing noise and vibration. With little friction or wear, it has advantages in terms of durability and easy maintenance.□ Moreover, as rotor movements can be controlled more quickly than the movements of mechanical-based rotors, the technology is expected to be utilized on ships that navigate coastal waters, where the wind frequently changes its direction and speed.□ The world's first magnetic bearing-based rotor sail developed by KRISO was officially recognized for its technology as it obtained Approval in Principle (AIP) from the Korean Register of Shipping in December 2022. A fact sheet on its technology is planned to be published and submitted to the IMO for the 80th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting this July, showcasing the excellence of the technology to the global audience.□ Lead researcher Kang Hee Jin, the Director of the Alternative Fuels and Power System Research Center at KRISO, reaffirmed further commitment to the development of various eco-friendly ship technologies, including the magnetic bearing-type rotor sails, to secure new growth engines for the shipping, shipbuilding, and equipment industries of Korea in the era of carbon neutral oceans.□ KRISO plans to build a demonstration platform for coastal ships and verify the reliability of the magnetic bearing-based rotor sails by 2025, while working towards its global standardization at the same time.< Concept diagram of a demonstration platform to embed a magnetic-based rotor sail and assessment of its application on coastal ships >

Easier Coastal Prevention and Responses to Large-Scale Marine Pollution Incidents▶ KRISO develops amphibious oil removal equipment for cleaning up large-scale onshore and shoreline oil spills▶ Minimizing marine pollution damage by quickly and effectively responding to marine oil spills< Driving performance test of the prototype for large-scale coastal and shoreline-adhered oil spill recovery equipment (Mallipo beach, Taean) >□ It has now become possible to respond more quickly and effectively at coastal shorelines during events of expansive marine pollution incidents. □ The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (President Hong Key Yong, hereafter “KRISO”) announced that it will be holding a demonstration of its amphibious recovery equipment on May 24th. The newly developed recovery device can easily maneuver across the coastline to quickly remove and recover spilled oil during events of major offshore oil spills.< Schematic exterior of the prototype for large-scale coastal and shoreline-adhered oil spill recovery equipment >□ Over the last 5 years, an average of 258 large and small oil spill incidents occurred annually in Korea. When the spilled oil is washed onto the shore, it adheres to gravel or sand, making the response and clean-up even more challenging. Coastal clean up and prevention responses require much manpower and time. If the oil spills require longer time for cleanup, the environmental pollution will likely become more severe and serious as the oil seep into the ground.□ Considering these marine pollution incident characteristics, KRISO has developed amphibious recovery equipment that can quickly remove the thick layer of oil waving towards the coasts and those that have adhered to the shorelines.< Detachable floating and adhered oil recovery unit: 4 types >□ The developed equipment consists of a caterpillar track that can operate on shallow sea waters, sandy beaches, and gravel fields, as well as four types of detachable recovery units to ensure adequate response and cleanup operation for different oil types, climate conditions, and water depths. * Detachable recovery units: brush recovery unit, weir screw recovery unit, scraper recovery unit, and rotary scraper recovery unit□ The oil recovery equipment boasts an operational performance of more than 20 m3/h (for in shore) and 2,000 m2/h (for shore adherence), at least 50 times faster than manual human labor. It also doesn’t generate secondary waste, such as used oil-abosorption pads that are used to wipe off oil that has adhered to the shoreline. Furthermore, the machine is equipped with a heating device to allow the recovery of high-viscosity oil, which enables seamless cleanup work even during the winter season.□ Lead researcher Choi Hyuk-jin at KRISO commented, “KRISO will continue to develop various prevention and response equipment, including small manned and unmanned units, by leveraging on the source technology secured during the development of the latest amphibious recovery equipment, and will largely contribute to the revitalization of the related industries by transferring the technology to the private sector.” □ Representatives from relevant institutions, including the Korea Coast Guard and Korea Maritime Environment Management Corporation, will take part in the demonstration event. The event is expected to demonstrate key features of the amphibious recovery equipment prototype, including the recovery of oil that has washed onshore or which has adhered to the shoreline, as well as its driving performance on soft coastal grounds.□ KRISO President Hong Key Yong explained, “Oil spillage at sea can spread quickly due to rapid currents and winds, where the damages can be severe. We expect that the newly developed amphibious recovery device can help us perform quick and effective response and cleanup actions on the coast during events of large-scale oil spills.” He also promised that “KRISO will continue to lead the development of core technologies that can safeguard the lives and safety of the people and the marine environment.”< Oil recovery performance tests: adhered oil (left) & floating oil (right) >

2023 Navy-KRISO Technical Exchange Plenary□ The Navy-KRISO Technical Exchange Plenary was held on April 28th (Friday), at which Rear Admiral Kim Kyung Cheol, the commander of Republic of Korea’s Naval Force Analysis Test and Evaluation Group, was in attendance. Since the signing of an MOU in September 2021, KRISO and the Navy have continued technical exchanges based on action items specified in the categories of ship design & construction, marine ICT, and education & research.□ First, the Naval Force Analysis Test and Evaluation Group requested cooperation for the mock-up performance testing of three-dimensionally curved twisted-rudder technology and cavitation inception speed (CIS) performance management technology for ship propellers. A presentation followed by the Naval Future Innovation Research Group, requesting cooperation in areas of communication, sensor, and surveillance technologies for effective operation of manned and unmanned combined mine warfare systems. The Information Planning & Management Department reported the status of preparations for the 2023 Navy-KRISO Intelligent Information Policy Development Seminar, while calling for active support and participation in the 1st Navy-Marine Coprs AI Competition. Moreover, they requested active cooperation in the field of educational support, such as regular and invitational lectures at the Naval Academy.□ KRISO shared the development status of Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUVs), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), autonomous navigation technology, combined systems for underwater unmanned vehicles, cluster search technology, and underwater biofouling treatment technology, as well as announcing a plan to develop demonstration test and assessment technologies for unmanned marine systems.□ Following the presentations, the two parties engaged in discussions around their common interests, including the operation of AUVs on mine warfare USVs, the management of underwater biofouling, and a plan for the assessment of demonstration tests for unmanned marine systems. Technical exchanges are expected to continue in small groups by consolidating the action items for each respective department.

KRISO Hosts a Technical Exchange Meeting with Korean Register of Shipping▶ Discussing ideas on research and technology exchanges and cooperation in eco-friendly ships and maritime digital technology□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (President Hong Key Yong, hereafter “KRISO”) announced that it had hosted the first Technical Exchange Meeting with the Korean Register of Shipping (Chairman & CEO Lee Hyung Cheol, hereafter “KR”) on May 13th, at the KRISO Daejeon headquarters.□ The ‘KRISO-KR Technical Exchange Meeting’ was convened under a consensus to secure competitive technology in the shipping and maritime sector, respond to international organizations, and to establish an industry-academia-government technical cooperation framework admist the changing international maritime environment towards decarbonization and digital transformation.□ Members representing technical sectors of both organizations, including President Hong Key Yong of KRISO and Head of Research Division Kim Dae Heon of KR took part in the first Technical Exchange Meeting and exchanged ideas on technical cooperation in core research areas of the shipping and maritime sectors, including △ maritime digital technology, △ green technology, △ SMR vessels, and △ autonomous operation.  □ In particular, the two parties agreed to share the status of their respective R&D projects for the development of core autonomous ship technologies, as well as to jointly drive initiatives around technology developments for eco-friendly ships and electricity-powered ships and co-develop roadmaps for the development of eco-friendly ship and digitalization technologies. □ Additionally, to further advance their cooperation, the two institutions agreed to build a triparty technical cooperation framework (including MacNet) among the industry, academia, and the government, by collaborating in developing technologies, such as research on design verification and establishment of maintenance safety standards for offshore wind energy and research for developing a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) management system for ships, and by co-developing IMO agenda. □ Kim Dae Heon, the Head of the Research Division of KR, expressed his wish for “KR and KRISO to substantially improve the international competitiveness of the domestic shipbuilding and shipping sectors by developing source and application technologies in the fields of eco-friendly, high-efficiency, autonomous ship technologies and with extensive and ongoing technical collaboration from technical validations to real-world applications.”□ KRISO and KR also agreed to further join forces in developing base technologies for eco-friendly and digital technologies by using large research infrastructure, such as the Autonomous Ship Performance Demonstration Center, which will allow Korea to lead the rapidly changing paradigm of the shipbuilding and maritime sectors and to ensure market advantage. □ President Hong Key Yong of KRISO stated that “the Technical Exchange Meeting has provided a foothold for collaborative research with KR” and promised to “contribute to the revitalization of Korean shipbuilding industry and creation of new jobs by developing new technologies that follow the green and digital transformation and to lead in international standards to raise the status of Korea in the international community.”

KRISO Achieves Excellence in Laboratory Safety Management Certification for 3rd Time in a Row- Equipment and Materials Reliability Testing Laboratory demonstrates leadership in safe research practices -□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO, President Key-Yong Hong) announced on the 30th that the KRISO's Equipment and Materials Reliability Testing Laboratory had been selected as a laboratory of excellence in safety management by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2022, for the third time in a row following its selection in 2018 and 2020.□ The certification of excellence in safety management for laboratories is awarded by the Ministry of Science and ICT through a comprehensive review process conducted by experts to enhance autonomous safety management capacities and identify/promote standard models of safety management in university and research institute-level laboratories in the field of science and technology. The certification remains effective for a period of two years before it has to be renewed. □ Since its re-certification in 2020, the Equipment and Materials Reliability Testing Laboratory has taken proactive measures to improve laboratory safety, such as identifying and resolving risk factors to safety, and providing staff members with training in safety management. The success of such efforts has been recognized once again with its recent selection as a laboratory of excellence in safety management for the third time in a row.□ KRISO President Key-Yong Hong said “the re-certified laboratory serves as great model for laboratory safety,” and vowed to “continue striving to promote a culture of safety within KRISO and improve capacities in safety management to contribute to research performance.”□ Meanwhile, the laboratory was accredited as Korea’s only KOLAS-certified internationally accredited testing institute for underwater pressure testing in 2014.

KRISO, leading the international standards of the maritime PNT service▶ Positioning augmentation message type developed by KRISO was registered as RTCM international standard.▶ Centimeter-level positioning augmentation service will be provided in Korea’s territorial waters from 2025.□ The Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO, President Keyyong Hong) announced on January 17, 2024 that it had developed a broadcasting message type for an advanced high-accuracy maritime positioning service to provide accurate position on the sea and successfully registered it as an international standard with the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM).□ The RTCM, an international organization for official technical standards for maritime navigation and positioning, defines a series of message types and standards for transmission of position correction data. Generally, ships and airplanes obtain accurate position using the GPS and the RTCM correction information. Maritime international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) have also adopted the data transmission standards of the RTCM.□ The RTCM standards define the augmentation service message types containing the error corrections, satellite status information, and base station information to improve the positioning accuracy of various navigation satellite systems such as GPS. When the augmentation messages are transmitted, the identification information of the service providers, including the country and institution, is provided.< Message types exclusively allocated by RTCM> □ In collaboration with the Maritime PNT Research Office, KRISO is developing a high-accuracy maritime positioning service technology to reduce the positioning error of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) to less than 10 cm. In addition, KRISO has developed a message type for positioning augmentation information broadcasting.< Conceptual diagram of the graound-based centimeter-level maritime high-accuracy positioning service > □ As the positioning augmentation message type has been registered as an international standard, the message type provides a basis for broadcasting centimeter-level maritime high-accuracy positioning service information to all ships sailing in the territorial waters of Korea. □ Since Korea has complicated shorelines and many islands, it is critical to provide high-accuracy positioning service for the safe sailing of future ships including autonomous navigation ships. Accurate position is also essential at harbors where ships often come in and go out.□ When the positioning service is provided at a centimeter-level accuracy in the message type developed by Korea, the national competitiveness will be increased in not only maritime affairs such as pilotage support, hydrographical survey, maritime construction, and dredging but also maritime mobility technologies including autonomous navigation ships. In addition, the service will significantly contribute to the development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as smart harbors and marine drones.□ The centimeter-level high-accuracy positioning service will be provided from 2025 through the high-speed maritime wireless communication network (LTE-M).□ Keyyong Hong, the President of KRISO, said, “With the Maritime PNT Research Office, KRISO will continue to take efforts to develop positioning service technologies in pursuit of maritime safety, such as the Korean Positioning System (KPS), and take the initiatives in preparing the international standards.”