The 134,000-ton commercial tanker Prism Courage recently sailed from the Gulf of Mexico to South Korea, becoming the first AI-powered oil tanker to cross the Atlantic Ocean. It is mainly controlled by an artificial intelligence system called HiNAS2.0.
Avikus, a subsidiary of South Korean tech giant Hyundai, recently announced that the tanker Prism Courage, designed to transport natural gas, became the first large vessel to autonomously sail more than 6,210 miles. The key to this incredible achievement is HiNAS2.0, an artificial intelligence system capable of analyzing different types of sensor readings in real time and responding quickly, efficiently and, most importantly, in compliance with the rules of maritime law .
Like airplanes, ships have highly advanced autopilots that allow them to maintain a stable course, react to GPS waypoints and ocean currents, even when the human crew is no longer on board or unable to do so. Bring them into port. However, autonomously sailing tens of thousands of kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean is more complex than putting a ship on autopilot.
In addition to driving the tanker in real time, Avikus’ HiNAS2.0 system is also able to select the best route and speed to reach the destination by analyzing data collected by advanced sensors. It compensates for weather and wave height and keeps it from getting too close to other boats to avoid collisions.
Prism Spirit departed Freeport, Texas, on May 1, 2022, and entered the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. It then sailed for 33 days to reach the Boryeong LNG terminal in South Korea. The second half of the voyage is handled by the HiNAS2.0 artificial intelligence system, whose performance is monitored and evaluated by U.S. and South Korean navigation authorities.
Data shows that the AI system improved fuel efficiency by 7% and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5%. In addition, the system accurately identified the position of nearby ships and maneuvered to avoid collisions approximately 100 times.
