Nation's Largest 'AI Port' to Be Established... Busan Port Authority Introduces Port-Specialized AI at Jinhae New Port

Establishing an Integrated Control System for Port Cargo Handling Equipment
and a Maritime Digital Twin

The project to create the nation’s largest ‘AI port’ has been launched.

On August 27, Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Song Sangkeun) announced that it has begun developing AI-based port infrastructure digitalization technology at Jinhae New Port, which is currently under development as the largest port project in Korea.

The development of Jinhae New Port aims to transform Busan Port into a world-class eco-friendly smart port by investing approximately 14 trillion won by 2045 to build one of the world’s largest megaports. This project is a core initiative of the government’s ‘Global Hub Port Construction Strategy.’

BPA plans to implement a project to establish an integrated control system for cargo handling equipment and a maritime infrastructure digital twin at Jinhae New Port, starting in September this year for a duration of 18 months.

Since the opening of Pier 7 at Busan New Port in April last year-the first fully automated terminal in Korea-there has been ongoing discussion about the need for seamless integration and system compatibility between automated cargo handling equipment and terminal operating systems.

Through this new project, BPA plans to establish a unified intelligent interface among major automated cargo handling equipment within the terminal and introduce AI-based work allocation and scheduling functions, thereby dramatically improving the cargo handling processes of the terminal operating system.

In addition, BPA will build a digital twin capable of real-time transmission and management of maritime data such as wave height and weather conditions near the port. This will help prevent maritime safety accidents caused by wave overtopping during construction and terminal operations, and will also support the accumulation of maritime data in preparation for the era of autonomous ships.

Song Sangkeun, President of BPA, stated, “The adoption of AI is a major global trend across all industries,” adding, “Building on our experience as the first in Korea to introduce an automated terminal, we will also take the lead in the AI transformation and digitalization of ports.”