South Korea and Japan Accelerate Shipyard Automation as China Dominates Global

South Korean and Japanese shipyards accelerate robotics and automation as China holds 63% of global ship orders.

South Korea and Japan are accelerating the use of robotics in their shipyards as they face labor shortages, ageing workforces and rising costs while competing with China's dominant position in global shipbuilding, according to the Financial Times, as shared by Coin Bureau.

Chinese shipyards secured 63% of global ship orders last year, putting pressure on established shipbuilding industries in Seoul and Tokyo to improve productivity through greater automation.

Shipyards Turn to Robots to Address Labor Shortages

South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai has already introduced robots to perform routine welding tasks, according to the report. Hanwha Ocean has also expanded its use of robotics, saying that one worker can supervise as many as 10 robots.

The shift toward automated production is aimed in part at reducing the dependence on human workers for repetitive tasks. South Korea and Japan are dealing with ageing workforces and difficulties recruiting enough labor for their shipbuilding industries, while higher costs add to the pressure on companies.

For shipbuilders, automation is therefore being pursued as a way to increase the amount of work that can be completed with a smaller workforce.

Japan Targets More Extensive Robot Deployment

Japan's Fanuc is also working toward a more automated shipbuilding environment. The company wants shipyards eventually to deploy as many robots as people, according to the Financial Times.

Greater robot deployment could allow shipyards to extend production beyond conventional working hours. Fanuc's strategy includes the prospect of more overnight operations, potentially allowing automated systems to continue performing tasks with less direct human intervention.

The approach reflects a broader effort by Japanese and South Korean manufacturers to use industrial automation to address structural workforce constraints.

South Korean Shipbuilders Set Automation Targets

HD Hyundai is targeting partially "dark" factories by 2030. The term refers to highly automated production facilities capable of operating with limited human intervention.

Hanwha Ocean has set an even more specific production target, aiming to automate 70% of its manufacturing processes.

The targets show how automation has become part of the longer-term competitive strategy for major shipbuilders in South Korea. Rather than relying solely on expanding their workforces, companies are seeking to increase the productivity of existing employees by assigning robots to routine production activities.

China Maintains a Strong Position in Global Shipbuilding

The push for automation comes as Chinese shipbuilders maintain a substantial lead in global orders. Chinese yards accounted for 63% of global ship orders last year, according to the Financial Times report cited by Coin Bureau.

South Korea and Japan are consequently pursuing automation while confronting separate domestic constraints, including labor shortages, ageing markets workforces and increasing production costs.

The next major milestones outlined by the companies are already defined: HD Hyundai is targeting partially "dark" factories by 2030, while Hanwha Ocean aims for 70% automated production.

Writer: Victoria Hale
Technology & Blockchain Writer

Victoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.

She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.