Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. has succeeded in launching a ship built on land without the use of a dry dock - a world's first.

On Thursday, the South Korean shipbuilder successfully launched the 105 thousand ton oil tanker - ordered by a Russian company - that had been built without employing the usual use of a dry dock, a hitherto essential facility in launching large vessels.

The number and size of dry docks generally serve as the yardstick in measuring shipbuilders' construction capabilities.

However, companies can save much time if the new shipbuilding method is used, as they are then not constrained by a limited number of dry docks.

Realizing the innovative technology had proven elusive up to now. Hyundai has plans to build 16 more vessels by employing the new method.