HD Hyundai’s autonomous navigation subsidiary, Avikus, has received type approval from DNV, the Norwegian classification society, for its autonomous navigation system HiNAS Control. The certification marks the first internationally approved mass-produced autonomous navigation system applicable across a wide range of vessel types.
HiNAS Control integrates perception, decision-making, and control functions into a single system, enabling vessels to independently identify nearby ships and obstacles, assess navigational situations, and execute collision avoidance maneuvers. With the certification in place, the system can now be installed on vessels without requiring additional verification, streamlining adoption among global shipowners.
Avikus worked alongside DNV for more than three years to establish safety requirements and develop a verification framework for the system. The classification society evaluated the system’s vision sensing and sensor fusion technology across a range of conditions including nighttime and adverse weather, as well as its collision avoidance capabilities under international maritime regulations.
The verification framework developed during the process is expected to serve as a key reference for broader industry standards, particularly as international guidelines for autonomous navigation remain incomplete. The criteria are also likely to inform ongoing discussions at the International Maritime Organization regarding technical standards for autonomous vessels.
DNV’s head for Korea and Japan called the approval significant for advancing autonomous navigation from concept to commercialization. Avikus’s CEO noted that the certification reflects global recognition of the system’s safety and reliability, adding that the company plans to accelerate commercialization while contributing to the development of international standards. HiNAS Control has been installed as standard equipment on HD Hyundai-built vessels since 2023.