▶ TerraPower to complete a 4th-generation Sodium Fast Reactor(SFR) in Wyoming, USA, by 2030 ▶ HD Hyundai to manufacture reactor vessels for SFRs, leveraging expertise from participation in the ITER project ▶ SFR, a type of SMR known for its enhanced safety and reduced nuclear waste issues, gaining significant spotlight ▶ "We aim to lead the SMR sector as a next-generation, carbon-free power source with proven safety" HD Hyundai has officially partnered with TerraPower, a US-based company, to develop key components for Small Modular Reactor (SMR). On Friday, the 20th, HD Hyundai announced that it recently secured a project from TerraPower to manufacture cylindrical reactor vessels. The reactor vessel in this project will be integrated into TerraPower’s Natrium, a 345 MW 4th-generation Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR), which is planned for installation in Kemmerer, Wyoming, USA. The SFR, being jointly developed by HD Hyundai and TerraPower, is a type of SMR. The reactor vessel is a critical component of the SFR, containing the reactor core where nuclear fission occurs and ensuring the safe operation of the high-temperature, low-pressure coolant. To successfully execute this project, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, a shipbuilding affiliate of HD Hyundai, plans to actively leverage its accumulated expertise. This expertise comes from its participation in the development and production of key equipment, including vacuum vessels, for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR). The SFR generates electricity by using high-speed neutrons for nuclear fission and cooling the resulting heat with liquid sodium instead of water. Among SMRs, it is noted for its high safety and advanced technology, with nuclear waste volumes only one-twentieth of conventional reactors, making it the most promising next-generation SMR. The Natrium project aims for completion by 2030 after obtaining construction and operational permits from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Globally, interest and demand for nuclear power, a carbon-free energy source, are growing to achieve carbon neutrality and enhance energy security. As the limitations of large-scale nuclear plants, such as safety concerns and public acceptance, become more evident, the global nuclear market is expected to shift toward SMR-centric. According to SMR market report by global research firm MarketsandMarkets, the global SMR market is projected to grow from $5.7 billion in 2022 to $6.8 billion by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3%. “SMR has significant growth potential in the global decarbonization trend,” said an official of HD Hyundai. “Leveraging the expertise and capabilities built through projects such as ITER and KSTAR, we aim to lead the SMR sector, emerging as a next-generation power source.” Meanwhile, in March, HD Hyundai has played a leading role in co-founding the world’s first international private organization in the field of offshore nuclear power, the Nuclear Energy Marine Organization (NEMO). Since February, the company has also been conducting joint research on SMRs with leading global nuclear power companies.  

▶ Successful integrated demonstration of autonomous navigation and remote control for an 8,000-TEU large container ship ▶ World's first technology to enable control handover between remote operation centers, ensuring continuous long-distance operations ▶ "We will lead the future of the shipping industry by taking the lead in the international standardization of autonomous navigation technology" HD Hyundai successfully completed the integrated demonstration of autonomous navigation and remote control for large vessels, accelerating the commercialization of Level 3 autonomous navigation. HD Hyundai announced on the 28th that it has successfully conducted an integrated demonstration of autonomous navigation and remote control technology on an 8,000 TEU container ship. The company has also secured Approval in Principle (AIP) from both the Korean Register (KR) and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR). Through this demonstration, HD Hyundai plans to commercialize an integrated remote control service with Avikus, a subsidiary specializing in autonomous navigation, and its HiNAS Control autonomous navigation solution, along with the remote control solution developed in-house by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. The remote control solution not only enables remote steering and speed control but is also designed to address the unique challenges of the vessel’s operating environment. It is equipped to handle communication delays, unexpected situations, and cyber threats that may arise during navigation.  In particular, HD Hyundai showcased the world’s first technology for switching control between multiple Remote Operation Centers (ROC) on large vessels during this demonstration. This technology allows for the seamless transfer of control from one ROC to another during long-distance voyages, ensuring the continuity of remote operations. In this demonstration, control was successfully transferred between the Digital Control Center (HiDCC) located at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and the Digital Convergence Center (DCC) at HD Hyundai's Global R&D Center (GRC) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Meanwhile, autonomous vessels face challenging regulations, such as the Seafarers Act, Harbor Act, and Sea Traffic Safety Act, which make demonstrations difficult. However, HD Hyundai was able to successfully complete the demonstration, including maneuvers from the ROC and collision avoidance in congested areas, after receiving conditional approval through the Regulatory Sandbox Project for Advanced Industries, organized by Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). An official of the Korean Register (KR) stated, "HD Hyundai's remote control technology is essential for the commercialization of autonomous vessels, and its safety and reliability have been verified." An official of LISCR also emphasized, "Through HiNAS Control and the remote control solution, we have confirmed the feasibility of remote control between ROCs, providing a valuable Experience Building Phase (EBP) for the realization of autonomous navigation." "This certification has laid a crucial foundation for the commercialization of autonomous navigation and remote control technology," said an official of HD Hyundai stated. "We will continue to proactively respond to global institutions and regulations, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and take the lead in the international standardization of autonomous navigation technology." ■ Levels of IMO Ship Autonomous Navigation  - Level 1: The system supports the crew's decision-making. - Level 2: Remote control is possible with the crew onboard. - Level 3: Remote control is possible without crew onboard. - Level 4: Fully autonomous navigation technology.  

▶ Delivery signing ceremony for the 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer, ‘Jeongjo the Great’ held at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on the 27th, attended by government representatives from seven countries including the United States, Poland, and more  ▶ Chungnam (FFX-Ⅲ) class, the cutting-edge frigate, also unveiled alongside ‘Jeongjo the Great’ ▶ “This is a groundbreaking event, showing HHI’s on-time delivery capability to the world. Now is the time to accelerate Korea’s defense exports through unity with ‘Team Korea, Team Ship’ efforts" HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) delivered its industry-leading Aegis destroyer ‘Jeongjo the Great’ to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy. HHI announced today that it held a delivery signing ceremony for the leading ship of the 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer (Batch-Ⅱ), ‘Jeongjo the Great’. The delivery ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Current Capabilities Program Agency of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Jo Hyeon-gi, Director of the Naval Planning and Management Department of the Republic of Korea Navy Headquarters, Gwak Gwang-seop (Read Admiral Upper Half), Commander of the 8th Naval Combat Training Flotilla, Park Tae-gyu (Read Admiral Lower Half), Vice Chairman of the Ulsan Metropolitan Council, Kim Jong-seob, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries President, Lee Sang-kyun, and Head of Naval and Special Ship, Joo Won Ho among many distinguished guests. The Consul of the United States of America Consulate in Busan, Nolan Barkhouse, the Ambassador or Ecuador to Korea, Patricio Esteban Troya Suarez, Charge d’Affaires of the Polish Embassy in Korea, Artur GRADZIUK, and delegates from Peru, Morocco, Chile, and Thailand were also present in which they witnessed the excellency of ROKN vessel. Following the signing ceremony, the delegates visited the cutting-edge frigate ‘Chungnam’, which is scheduled for delivery to the ROK Navy next month. Among the visiting nations, Poland and Peru are emerging as strong potential customers for Korean defense export. The maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) cooperation with the US has also been reviewed, further underscoring the significance of today’s ceremony. ‘Jeongjo The Great’ is the fourth Aegis destroyer of the ROK, independently developed and built using Korea’s domestic technology. The ship is equipped with the latest Aegis combat management system (CMS), multi-function phased array radar, integrated sonar system independently developed by HHI, Korea’s vertical launch system (VLS), and ballistic missile interceptors capable of not only detecting and tracking ballistic missiles but also intercepting them.   HHI signed the building contract for ‘Jeongjo the Great’ with DAPA in 2019. This was followed by the steel cutting ceremony in 2021 and launching ceremony on July 28th, 2022. The ship successfully passed all 550 demanding trial tests including maximum speed evaluation, and then delivered to the Navy on time. On-time delivery highlights HHI’s competitiveness, showcasing its technical capability, cost efficiency, and adherence to delivery timelines. It marks the fourth on-time delivery following those of Ulsan-Class frigates ‘Cheonan’ and ‘Chuncheon’, 3,000-ton submarine ‘Shin Chae-ho’. ‘Jeongjo the Great’ captured widespread attention from delegates around the world, as demonstrated at United States Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro’s visit to the construction site, along with many others. “It’s a great honor for HHI to successfully deliver the top-class Aegis destroyer ‘Jeongjo the Great.’ It is a result of our evolving cooperation with affiliated organizations, including DAPA, the ROK Navy, Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ), and others. HHI remains committed to contributing to Korea’s defense exports with the ‘Team Korea, Team Ship’ efforts alongside government organizations.” said HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Head of Naval and Special Ship, Joo Won Ho.   HHI is finalizing the construction of the second ship of the ‘Jeongjo the Great’, which is set to be launched the next year, and began construction of the third ship last October. Additionally, HHI is leading naval ship exports with the Philippine Navy’s corvette scheduled for delivery next year, and the commencement of local cooperative development for four vessels for the Peruvian Navy. ■ Note: Specifications ‘Jeongjo the Great’ is the Aegis destroyer, developed and constructed independently using Korea’s domestic technology. The displacement of the 8,200-ton ‘Jeongjo the Great’ has increased from that of the 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer Batch-Ⅰ, but the stealth capability for the survivability of the ship has enhanced. ‘Jeongjo the Great’ has completed high level of trial tests to accomplish the integration of the Aegis CMS adopted from the U.S. and the components developed from the ROK. It is said that the successful test completion of ‘Jeongjo the Great’ resulted from the harmonious cooperation system with affiliated organizations that participated in the test including DAPA, DTaQ combined with the expertise of HHI’s Integrated Test Team (ITT), the only team of its kind in South Korea. ‘Jeongjo the Great’ is equipped with the latest Aegis CMS, combat management system, multi-function phased array radar, integrated sonar system independently developed by HHI, Korea’s vertical launch system (VLS-Ⅱ), and MH-60R maritime operation helicopter to successfully execute long-term attacks to major strategic targets including ballistic missiles, and to enhance the detection capability for underwater threats such as submarines. The ship has two additional Hybrid Electric Drives (HED) along with the existing four gas turbine engines to enable economic operations. Being the symbol of a cutting-edge destroyer and the country’s strategic asset equipped with the latest Aegis CMS capable of detection, tracking, and the attack for the ballistic missiles, ‘Jeongjo the Great’ is expected to operate as the key capability of the maritime-based mobile three-axis system*.  *Maritime-based mobile three-axis system: Developed by the ROK Navy, this system is designed to counter the ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile threat posed by North Korea. It comprises three core components: the Kill Chain preemptive strike system, the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan. ■ Image Description The sea trials of ‘Jeongjo the Great’ (KDX-Ⅲ, Batch-Ⅱ), the lead ship of the next-generation Aegis destroyer built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and delivered to the Navy