PAN Ocean's POS Singapore sails in this undated handout photo. The vessel, equipped with maritime autonomous navigation system, started testing in the waters of Korea and Southeast Asia, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The Korean government began testing of an autonomous ship in the waters of Korea and Southeast Asia, kicking off its bid to nurture the autonomous ship industry as a new economic driver.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, it held a sail-away ceremony for the POS Singapore at Busan Port on Monday.

The vessel is part of the Korea Autonomous Surface Ship (KASS) project, a 160 billion won ($120 million) endeavor initiated by the transport industry and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to develop an autonomous sailing system.

The 1,800 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) POS Singapore will operate on the Korea-Southeast Asia route for one year, testing its key functions such as intelligent navigation, engine automation and cybersecurity.

The POS Singapore was provided by Korean shipping firm PAN Ocean. The transport ministry said the company has been part of the project since designing the blueprint for the autonomous system for KASS.

The government plans to use the data and results from the test in securing Korea's leadership in the International Maritime Organization's discussions for a standard for maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) code.

"Autonomous ships will be developed in a way that maximizes safety and minimizes carbon emissions," Lee Seung-yeol, chief of the transport ministry's industrial policy office, said during the ceremony. "It will create significant opportunities for the shipbuilding and marine equipment industries, and the government will continue its cooperation to support the development and demonstration of cutting-edge technologies."

Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Song Myeong-dal also noted that "the government hopes KASS to prove its safety and feasibility to the world and serve a pivotal role in leading the future maritime mobility market."