Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for VesselWise’s ‘Autonomous Auxiliary Machinery Optimization Function’, recognizing the concept’s compliance with the SAFE, PERFORM, and Security requirements of LR’s ShipRight Digital Ships framework.

The AiP was presented during Gastech 2026 in Bangkok.

Developed as a core application within HD KSOE’s Integrated Smartship Solution (ISS) platform, the autonomous machinery optimization function is designed to enhance the operation of auxiliary machinery systems through automation and artificial intelligence.

As shipowners and operators increasingly seek to improve operational performance through digital technologies, the industry is moving beyond monitoring and advisory systems towards solutions capable of autonomously optimizing onboard processes. VesselWise has been developed to support this transition, providing intelligent machinery management within a framework that prioritizes safety, performance, and cybersecurity.

Through the AiP process, LR assessed the concept against the SAFE, PERFORM, and SECURITY requirements of its ShipRight Digital Ships framework. The approval provides independent validation of the technology’s technical basis and establishes a foundation for future testing and implementation activities. Future verification work is expected to include application onboard a 174,000 cbm LNG carrier.

Andy McKeran, Chief Growth Officer, Lloyd’s Register, said: “The next phase of maritime digitalization is not simply about collecting more data; it’s about using that data to improve vessel performance.

“Through this Approval in Principle, we have assessed the concept against LR’s digital assurance requirements, providing confidence in its technical foundation as the industry explores new ways to improve efficiency, performance, and operational decision-making through advanced digital capabilities.”

Bongjun Choi, Senior Vice President, Head of SDV Center, HD KSOE, said: “As vessels become increasingly complex, achieving optimal machinery operation through human decision-making alone is becoming more challenging.

“VesselWise is designed to address this challenge by combining intelligent optimization with a safety-focused control framework. LR’s Approval in Principle marks an important milestone toward real-world deployment, and we will continue to validate the technology onboard to demonstrate its contribution to safer, more efficient, and lower-carbon vessel operations.”