Digital Shipyard Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Shipyard Type (Commercial, Military), By Technology Platform (Robotic Process Automation, Additive Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics, and others), By Digitalization Level (Semi Digital Shipyard, Fully Digital Shipyard) and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global digital shipyard market size was USD 963.6 million in 2020. It is projected to grow from USD 1,129.6 million in 2021 to USD 3,444.5 million by 2028 at a CAGR of 17.27% during the forecast period 2021-2028. Asia Pacific dominated the digital shipyard market with a market share of 33.55% in 2020.

The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market showed a decline of -9.50% in 2020 compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. The rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, which will return to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

The adoption of Industry 4.0 capabilities in designing, manufacturing, and maintaining marine vessels is known as the digital shipyard. The shipyards use capabilities such as Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) to upgrade the shipyards for a technologically advanced world. Systems such as 3D modelling, 3D scanning, 3D printing, digital twins, and others are utilized in the digitalization of a shipyard. Rising demand for modernization in shipbuilding is expected to propel the growth of this market.

Digital Shipyard Market Overview & Key Metrics

Market Size & Forecast:

• 2020 Market Size: USD 963.6 million
• 2021 Market Size: USD 1,129.6 million
• 2028 Forecast Market Size: USD 3,444.5 million
• CAGR: 17.27% from 2021–2028

Market Share:

• Asia Pacific dominated the digital shipyard market with a 33.55% share in 2020, driven by strong shipbuilding presence in China, South Korea, and Japan. Rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies such as IoT, robotics, and digital twins in these countries fuels the regional market growth.
• By technology platform, robotic process automation is expected to retain the largest market share, supported by rising automation in shipbuilding tasks such as welding, cutting, and painting to reduce production costs and time.

Key Country Highlights:

• China: Strong shipbuilding demand under the Belt and Road Initiative; rapid integration of digital twin and smart shipyard technologies.
• South Korea: Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries lead with high shipyard automation levels (68%+), enhancing productivity and reducing costs.
• Japan: Focus on AI and additive manufacturing in shipbuilding, particularly for high-precision commercial and defense vessels.
• United States: Increased investments in smart shipyard projects for defense fleets and maritime modernization initiatives.
• Europe (Germany, U.K., Finland): Growth supported by digital shipyard investments and collaborations between companies like Dassault Systèmes, AVEVA, and Wartsila.

Digital Shipyard Market Trends

Download Free sample to learn more about this report.

Increasing Demand for Additive Manufacturing is a Prominent Trend

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, can print a 3D digital model in very little time. Recent technological advances in 3D printers have enabled printing larger components as well. The material of 3D printing is not limited to plastic anymore. Advanced printer systems can also create parts from metal using a technique of high-velocity particle fusion. The adoption of additive manufacturing in shipyards can reduce system repair time, as one can print and replace the damaged part.

• Asia Pacific witnessed digital shipyard market growth from USD 356.9 Million in 2019 to USD 323.3 Million in 2020.

AI-Powered Smart Shipyards: In September 2024, ST Engineering launched an AI-powered smart shipyard in Singapore, equipped with 5G infrastructure, predictive maintenance, and IoT-enhanced safety systems, streamlining complex maritime projects

COVID-19 Impact

COVID-19 Pandemic had an Adverse Effect on the Shipping and Shipbuilding Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic, which hit in 2020, caused losses in a number of businesses, including the marine industry. Shipyards, shipbuilding companies, and tier 2 and tier 3 suppliers were forced to adjust their working methods to comply with government laws and prohibitions, which resulted in the suspension of shipbuilding operations.

• Fincantieri Shipyard in Italy, for example, has completely halted all production between March and April.

Furthermore, due to the decreased demand for marine transport and trade, new ship orders have been cancelled. Cruise ships are the most profitable section of shipbuilding for European shipyards. However, due a drop in sea passenger travel during the COVID-19 outbreak, cruise ships were tied and moored, causing cruise deliveries to be delayed and orders to be cancelled in a few cases.

Because of the decline in manufacturing operations, the pandemic halted the digitalization of shipyards.

This accident, on the other hand, is expected to be a digitalization catalyst, resulting in increased potential for advanced automated technologies in the shipbuilding industry. The demand for shipbuilding automation has surged in response to the labor shortage that arose during the pandemic.

Digital Shipyard Market Growth Factors

Increased Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Use in Shipbuilding to Boost Growth

By merging the IoT's communication capabilities with machine learning and big data, the digital shipyard leverages the IIoT to improve its decision-making skills and manufacturing processes. The market is expected to rise due to the increasing usage of IIoT in the shipbuilding industry to boost output, minimize downtime, and improve operational efficiency.

In December 2019, Navantia, a European shipyard, chose Siemens Digital Industries Software as its technological partner to digitalize its shipbuilding process

Rising Implementation of Robot Technology in the Shipbuilding Industry to Fuel Market Growth

Shipbuilding companies worldwide are focusing on automating manufacturing operations such as cutting, welding, painting, assembly, and others to speed up the process and save costs. Several key players, such as Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, have implemented welding robots to reduce the production cost of the ship.

• For instance, Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.’s Geoje Shipyard developed several robot systems, such as cleaning pipe robots, wall-climbing robots, spider automatic welding robots, vacuum blasting robots, and inspection robots. Since installing these robots, the Geoje Shipyard has recorded a 68% production automation rate.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Working Capital for Hardware and Software May Hamper the Growth of the Market

The early stages of automating a manufacturing plant include procurement, accessories, programming, integration, and others. The huge capital expenditure at the beginning stage can be challenging for some businesses. The price of the industrial system, along with integration and maintenance costs, makes automation an expensive investment for small and medium-sized shipbuilders. Many small and medium-scale shipbuilders find it tough to gather huge funds due to the low production volume and sluggish return on investment.

Moreover, the software cost is also high, which is anticipated to restrain the digital shipyard market growth.

Digital Shipyard Market Segmentation Analysis

By Shipyard Type Analysis

Commercial Segment to Dominate the Market Owing to Increasing Maritime Trade

Based on shipyard type, the market is segmented into commercial and military. The commercial segment is predicted to be the largest segment in 2020 and is expected to be the fastest-growing segment throughout the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the rise in seaborne trade across the globe. As stated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), around 80% of the global trade by volume is carried out by sea, which increases ship procurement, thus increasing the demand for digitalizing shipyards to speed up the manufacturing process.

The military segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period due to rising government investment in developing and implementing digital twins in defense technologies.

By Technology Platform Analysis

To know how our report can help streamline your business, Speak to Analyst

Robotic Process Automation Category to Dominate the Market Due To Increased Demand for Automation.

The market is divided into robotic process automation, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence and big data analytics, digital twin, blockchain, industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), and other categories based on technology platforms. Due to the increased need for automation of many ship manufacturing processes, including welding, cutting, painting, and others, the robotic process automation segment is expected to dominate the market in 2020.

• For example, in 2018, a Ulsan-based shipyard claimed that it would automate the welding process, saving USD 9.4 million per year. The automation cut welding time in half and lowered the number of skilled workers by two-thirds.
• The Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics segment is expected to hold a 28.22% share in 2020.

Due to the rising usage of artificial intelligence in robotic technology to automate the production process without human interference, the artificial intelligence segment is predicted to grow at a faster CAGR over the forecast period.

By Digitalization Level Analysis

Fully Digital Shipyard Segment to Record High CAGR Led by Increased Adoption of Advanced Technologies

The market is categorized into semi and fully digital shipyards based on their level of digitalization. In 2020, the semi-digital shipyard is expected to be the largest segment. The dominance can be linked to shipbuilding businesses' growing awareness of the need to update their manufacturing processes. Due to the increased use of IIOT, augmented reality, digital twins, and other sophisticated technologies for marine vessel building, the fully digital shipyard is predicted to be the fastest expanding market over the projection period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

To get more information on the regional analysis of this market, Download Free sample

The global market is segmented by region into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America.

With a market size of USD 323.3 million in 2020, Asia Pacific is expected to have the largest market share and grow at a faster compound annual growth rate during the projected period. Major shipbuilders like as Daewoo Shipbuilding, Marine Engineering, and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, among others, are responsible for the region's dominance in the digital shipbuilding sector.

According to a published report, 90 percent of global cargo ships are produced in South Korea, Japan, and China. As a result, the existence of shipbuilding enterprises in the region aids in the digitalization of shipyards.

The market in Europe is expected to develop significantly as European shipbuilders increase their investments in automated robotic technology for industrial operations.

The North American segment is expected to grow due to increased research and development initiatives by key companies, such as Altair Engineering Inc. and others, to digitize shipyards.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Market Players Are Using Strategies Such as Investment, Collaboration, Partnerships, and Others to Increase Their Market Potential

Companies have been concentrating on the automation of the manufacturing process over the last few years. Several companies are taking initiatives to adopt digitization in shipbuilding. There has been a rise in investments in the modernization of capabilities to increase efficiency and decrease costs. Players such as SAP and Accenture are collaborating to develop a new SAP cloud utility solution that will assist shipbuilding businesses in managing customer experiences and business processes efficiently. Market players are making R&D investments to design advanced robotic technology based on AI, IoT, and Augmented Reality (AR).

List of Top Digital Shipyard Companies:

• IFS AB (Sweden)
• Pemamek Oy (Finland)
• Dassault Systemes (France)
• BAE Systems (U.K.)
• Altair Engineering, Inc. (U.S.)
• AVEVA Group Plc. (U.K.)
• Wartsila (Finland)
• KUKA AG (Germany)
• Damen Shipyards Group (Netherlands)
• Prostep AG (Germany)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• In June 2021 – Drydocks World launched a project of digital transformation to increase operational efficiency. The company announced to utilize IFS Cloud for asset management and resource planning, enhancing its systems and laying the foundation for a digital shipyard transition.
• In February 2021, Damen Shipyard Group and Sea Machines Robotics signed a collaborative agreement to further investigate the adoption of collision avoidance functionality on board Damen ships. This collaboration supports Damen's strategy of digitalization, increased sustainability, and operational excellence

REPORT COVERAGE

An Infographic Representation of Digital Shipyard Market

View Full Infographic

To get information on various segments, share your queries with us

The market research report provides a detailed analysis of the industry. It focuses on key aspects, such as key players, shipyard types, technology platform, and the digitalization Level of digital shipyards. Moreover, the research report offers insights into digital shipyard market trends, competitive landscape, market competition, product pricing, market status, and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the major factors mentioned above, it encompasses several direct and indirect factors that have contributed to the sizing of the global market over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation