Class society KR has signed a memorandum of understanding with HD Hyundai Samho to jointly develop AI-based systems to improve ship design and structural analysis, the organisations report.
The agreement forms part of a wider digital transformation strategy aimed at the shipyard focused on improving design productivity and engineering workflows through the use of artificial intelligence.
The research will focus on two main areas: the optimisation of hull support arrangements using AI to automate structural analysis processes, and the development of an on-premise design verification system based on a large language model (LLM).
The hull support system will aim to automate the placement of structural supports, replacing repetitive calculations with a real-time simulation interface to improve accuracy. The on-premise verification system will run within the shipyard’s internal network and is designed to comply with data security requirements while supporting knowledge sharing and cross-departmental collaboration.
“This collaboration marks a pivotal step toward significantly advancing design efficiency and accuracy at shipyards through AI-driven automation,” said Shim Hak Mu, Executive Vice President, HD Hyundai Samho.
“In particular, optimising the arrangement of hull supports with AI and introducing a secure in-house design system will ease the workload for design engineers while enabling more consistent and precise outcomes—ultimately enhancing overall productivity and quality.”
