Panstar Enterprise, a listed subsidiary of Panstar Group, has established a Convergence Technology Research Center to lead the future maritime industry by integrating eco-friendly, marine pollution prevention, and AI technologies.
The company announced on the 26th that it established the Convergence Technology Research Center on the 25th and received certification as a corporate research institute from the Korea Industrial Technology Association. Lee Sang-ho, who has led the development of land and marine firefighting equipment and ballast water treatment systems at research institutes in Korea and China, was appointed as the center's director.
The research center aims to go beyond technology localization to develop eco-friendly energy solutions for carbon emission reduction, marine pollution prevention through filterless ballast water pretreatment systems, and AI technology integration to improve design and operational efficiency. Panstar Enterprise plans to position itself as a leading sustainable maritime technology company and drive mid-to-long-term revenue structure innovation through these initiatives.
The company will first pursue commercialization of a proprietary hydrocyclone model. This device resolves clogging issues associated with conventional filter-based ballast water treatment system pretreatment processes and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by minimizing sediment accumulation in tanks. The company plans to collaborate with the Korea Marine Equipment Research Institute (KOMERI) for performance verification and actual vessel installation.
Development of AI-based ship design automation technology will proceed in parallel. The plan is to use AI to automate complex drafting work such as "Fire Control Plans," which currently takes approximately 18 days of manual work, thereby shortening design periods. This is expected to contribute to profitability improvement through labor cost reduction and accuracy enhancement.
The company will also develop microplastic capture technology for marine ecosystem protection. The strategy involves building a high-performance system combining hydrocyclones and filters, and securing technological barriers to entry by linking it with next-generation Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS). In response to strengthening international marine environmental regulations, the company will also enhance eco-friendly ship design capabilities and develop security solutions for Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC) aligned with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulatory trends.
Panstar Enterprise strengthened its eco-friendly ship engineering competitiveness by absorbing Panstar Tech Solution within the group in May last year. This year, the merger effects are materializing, including winning $10 million worth of eco-friendly ship retrofit design contracts for exhaust gas cleaning systems from major domestic and international shipping companies and shipyards.
CEO Kwon Jae-geun said, "The Convergence Technology Research Center will become the core engine for Panstar's maritime technology advancement," adding, "We will achieve substantial revenue growth through government R&D project acquisition and proprietary model commercialization, and meet shareholder expectations by enhancing corporate value as a listed company."