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Entering the Era of Electrified Large Vessels, Busan Metropolitan City Accelerates Efforts to Secure Leadership in Next-Generation Maritime Technologies.

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it held the “Kickoff Meeting for the Vision and Mid-to-Long-Term Development Strategy for Large Vessel Electrification” on June 22 at Shilla Stay Seobusan in cooperation with the Research Institute of Medium & Small Shipbuilding and has officially launched efforts to establish a mid-to-long-term roadmap for developing core technologies and building a demonstration system for large vessel electrification.

The study aims to integrate key electrification technologies—including power generation systems, energy storage systems (ESS), power conversion and distribution systems, propulsion motors, and integrated control systems—into a unified framework while simultaneously establishing demonstration, testing, and certification infrastructure to verify the performance and safety of the developed equipment.

The meeting was attended by approximately 70 participants, including representatives from Busan Metropolitan City, the Research Institute of Medium & Small Shipbuilding, Korea’s three major shipbuilders, mid-sized shipyards, companies specializing in electrification components and equipment, universities, and research institutions.

Participants shared the current status of large vessel electrification technologies and the industry ecosystem and discussed sector-specific implementation strategies, including localization of core equipment, system integration, construction of land-based demonstration infrastructure, and establishment of standards and certification systems.

Through discussions within specialized working groups, participants also agreed to progressively define technology development priorities and detailed implementation tasks.

As international greenhouse gas regulations in the maritime sector continue to tighten, vessel propulsion systems are transitioning from conventional internal combustion engine-based systems to zero-carbon and electrified propulsion systems utilizing batteries and fuel cells.

In particular, because large vessels require high propulsion power and extended operating periods, simply increasing battery capacity is insufficient to achieve full electrification. As a result, a system-level approach is required that integrates megawatt-class power conversion, high-voltage power distribution, large-capacity energy storage systems, high-output propulsion motors, intelligent energy management systems, and safety protection technologies.

In response to these industry changes, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced in May, through its K-Shipbuilding Future Vision initiative, plans to launch the “7 Star-Ship Project,” investing up to KRW 525 billion over the next five years, and to pursue research and development aimed at achieving technological self-reliance in large-scale electric propulsion systems.

This planning study is significant in that it seeks to develop actionable strategies for proactively securing core technologies and supply chains for large vessel electrification in alignment with national policy.

To realize large vessel electrification and secure technological leadership, the Research Institute of Medium & Small Shipbuilding plans to formulate detailed technology development strategies centered on six strategic areas: power conversion systems, high-voltage power distribution systems, propulsion motors, next-generation marine batteries, integrated control systems, and infrastructure development.

The institute also plans to strengthen the capabilities of major shipbuilders in developing electrified vessels while enhancing global competitiveness through the establishment of supply chains involving small and medium-sized shipyards and component and equipment manufacturers, as well as through the creation of a foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Park Dong-seok, Director General of the Advanced Industries Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “This kickoff meeting provided an opportunity to explore ways for Korea’s shipbuilding industry to secure leadership in the future vessel market by responding to the emerging technological competition surrounding large vessel electrification.”

He added, “We will establish an effective mid-to-long-term development strategy aligned with the government’s K-Shipbuilding Future Vision and do our utmost to create an eco-friendly shipbuilding industry ecosystem in which major shipbuilders and regional small and medium-sized equipment manufacturers can grow together.”