Norway-based DNV Collaborates with South Korean Shipbuilders on Digital Twin Testing Standards

Norway-based classification society DNV has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) on new standards for using digital twins to test electric propulsion systems.

Specifically, the collaboration focuses on developing standards for testing electric-powered vessels through digital twin-based criteria and procedures to enhance ship safety and efficiency. The collaborative project aims to resolve issues related to the integration of highly complex vessel systems for electric propulsion by utilizing hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) testing via digital twins of the different systems.

To ensure the accuracy of the tests, the partners are working on verifying the digital assets. Utilizing DNV-verified digital assets will facilitate the integration process and ensure the reliability of testing when systems from multiple suppliers are tested together.

“Through this technical collaboration we aim to establish clear and practical digital twin-based testing procedures and standards. These can foster broader industry participation and ensure the reliability of results. In doing so, we hope to safeguard the performance and safety of ship systems and lead in building a digital twin ecosystem for the shipbuilding industry,” Kitae Kim, Head of Quality Management, HD Hyundai Mipo, said.

“We have proactively developed and implemented digital twin technology, including HiL, to safeguard the performance and quality of vessels, achieving world-class advancements in virtual commissioning technology. This collaboration marks a pivotal milestone, uniting HD Hyundai Mipo, HD KSOE, and DNV to drive digital innovation in the shipbuilding and marine industry,” Byoung Hun Kwon, Head of the Electrification Center/Digital Technology Research Lab, at HD KSOE, commented.

“This MoU highlights HMD, KSOE and DNV’s commitment to driving digitalization in the maritime industry. By adopting digital twin-based testing for complex systems, we are working together to shape the future of maritime operations and set new industry standards for safety and performance,” Andreas Kristoffersen, Head of Approval Centre Korea and DNV Maritime, highlighted.

The project will also focus on maintaining digital assets throughout the life-cycle of the vessel to maximize their value over the long term. With verified assets, component models could also be used in a “plug-and-play” manner as different systems are introduced into the simulation space or updated over time.

The initiative sets out to build a foundation for leveraging class-verified digital assets to support more comprehensive and earlier HiL testing. It aligns with DNV’s Data-driven Verification (DDV) notation, which has been developed to ensure reliable performance of complex systems.

Several months ago, DNV awarded approval in principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai for its cloud-based integrated Hyundai Intelligent Digital Twin Ship (HiDTS) system. Since 2022, DNV and HD KSOE have been collaborating on data-driven verification (DDV) of digital twin technologies.