Participated in oil spill exercise organized by Singapore MPA
Demonstrated KOBOT, a self-propelled marine pollution control system developed by KOAI
Hyundai Corporation signs an MOU with KOAI to support overseas market expansion

▲ Hyundai Corporation and KOAI participated in the 16th Joint Oil Spill Exercise (JOSE) on October 10 (local time), hosted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). (Photo=MPA)

Hyundai Corporation will support Korean marine pollution control equipment startup KOAI with market expansion overseas. The partnership kicked off in Singapore, where KOAI’s oil spill response robot and related technology were demonstrated.

On the 14th, the MPA reported that Hyundai Corporation and KOAI participated in the 16th Joint Oil Spill Exercise (JOSE) on the 10th of October (local time). The two companies demonstrated KOAI’s self-propelled marine pollution control robot called “KOBOT.”

This is the result of a collaboration between Hyundai Corporation and KOAI. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last July. Hyundai Corporation will utilize its global network to support KOAI in selling its marine pollution control solutions and robots, including KOBOT, in overseas markets, while also assisting with business development and marketing efforts.

KOBOT is a small-sized, remotely operated robotic device developed by KOAI to address marine pollution. The robot can automatically retrieve both oil spills and microplastics from the ocean. Unlike previous equipment which required additional devices, KOBOT integrates the key functions of pollution recovery, transport, and storage into a single unit. It is also capable of tracking and retrieving pollutants. The robot’s technology is based on the hydrophilic ratchet technology transferred from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.

In January, KOAI participated in CES 2024, the world’s largest electronics and IT expo held in Las Vegas, U.S., and its “KOBOT S” won the Innovation Award. In February, KOBOT S was deployed to address the oil spill from a Russian ship at Gamcheon Port in Busan and recovered about 3.6 tons of pollutants. Last month, KOBOT removed pollutants from a ship at Pier 5 in Busan, which had sunk due to heavy rainfall.

KOAI is actively pursuing international markets. It already exported KOBOT to Malaysia and Kuwait in 2022. The company is actively seeking new orders by combining the experiences of past orders and Hyundai Corporation’s know-how. The company plans to conduct technology demonstrations in Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, and in Indonesia. It will also carry out ODA (Official Development Assistance) projects with the Philippine Coast Guard.

The JOSE is a biannual event that began in 1998. It aims to test cooperation and responses between agencies and industries on oil spill accidents that occur in Singapore’s harbors. This year, more than 100 personnel from 18 organizations and companies participated in the event. The 23rd Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON), the world’s largest bunkering conference, was also held alongside it.

 

October 14, 2024
The Guru