Korea Certifies 3D Printing to Repair Ships and Equipment

Fixing a damaged ship part just got faster, cheaper, and smarter thanks to a world-first certification in South Korea.

Korean Register has awarded the country's first manufacturing certificate for 3D printing technology that repairs damaged metal structures on ships and offshore equipment. The certification went to AM Solutions, which uses laser wire directed energy deposition to melt metal wire and rebuild damaged areas layer by layer.

The breakthrough matters because until now, crews had to replace entire parts when something broke. This new approach lets them restore only the damaged section, cutting repair time and costs significantly. It also means old or hard-to-find components can get a second life instead of forcing equipment into early retirement.

The maritime and defense industries have watched 3D printing with interest for years, knowing it could produce complex parts quickly. But without proper safety certifications, high costs, and unclear guidelines, the technology stayed mostly on the sidelines.

That changed when the International Association of Classification Societies established new recommendations last year for using 3D printing in marine applications. Korean Register built on those guidelines to create a comprehensive certification system covering materials, processes, products, and manufacturing methods.

The ceremony took place July 28 at AM Solutions' facility in Daejeon, with representatives from the Republic of Korea Navy, multiple technology institutes, and local government in attendance. The certification opens doors for both maritime fleets and defense operations to maintain high-value equipment more efficiently.

The Ripple Effect

This certification creates a blueprint other countries can follow. Ships spend less time in dry dock waiting for replacement parts. Military equipment stays operational longer. Manufacturers can support legacy systems even after original parts go out of production.

The technology particularly shines for extending equipment lifespan in remote locations where shipping replacement parts takes weeks. Naval vessels operating far from home ports could carry portable 3D printing systems, turning repair missions from months into days.

Sangsoo Kim, Senior Vice President of Korean Register's Naval Business Center, captured the moment perfectly: "This certification marks an important step in expanding additive manufacturing repair technology beyond newly manufactured parts to existing metallic structures."

Korea just turned 3D printing from a futuristic concept into a practical maintenance solution that keeps ships sailing and equipment running.