0
Hannae Choi (fifth from left), executive vice president and head of the Corporate Planning Office at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Chad Johnson, CEO of Kiewit Maritime, pose for a commemorative photo after signing an agreement to establish a shipbuilding joint venture in Houston, the United States, on Oct. 22 (local time). / Courtesy of HD Hyundai

HD Hyundai plans to build a new shipyard in the United States. The company aims to establish a local production base through a joint venture with a major U.S. construction and engineering company and move forward with expanding shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the United States.

HD Hyundai announced on Oct. 23 that it had signed an agreement with Kiewit, one of the largest construction, engineering and infrastructure companies in the United States, to establish a shipbuilding joint venture. The two companies previously signed a strategic partnership agreement in July and have since pursued cooperation on joint shipbuilding and the production of ship blocks and modules in the United States.

The signing ceremony, held in Houston, was attended by senior executives from both companies, including Hannae Choi, executive vice president and head of the Corporate Planning Office at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Chad Johnson, CEO of Kiewit Maritime.

The joint venture will be named HD KIEWIT SHIPBUILDING (HD Kiewit Shipbuilding). The companies aim to build a leading shipyard that will set a new standard for the U.S. shipbuilding industry by combining HD Hyundai's world-class technology and shipyard operating expertise with Kiewit's capabilities in large-scale fabrication and construction.

HD Kiewit Shipbuilding plans to build an advanced smart shipyard on an industrial site in the United States. Construction of the new shipyard is scheduled to begin in 2027, with full-scale operations targeted for 2029.

Once the new shipyard becomes fully operational, its local workforce is expected to reach approximately 3,000 employees. HD Hyundai plans to train workers through technical education and continue efforts to strengthen supply chains in the United States.

The new shipyard will be the first in the United States to adopt HD Hyundai's Future of Shipyard (FOS) model and digital production technologies.

HD Hyundai plans to build a smart shipyard incorporating advanced technologies such as digital twins, automated production systems and robotic welding. The entire process, from design to production, will be managed based on data, with the aim of improving productivity, quality and safety while also addressing the shortage of skilled workers.

HD Kiewit Shipbuilding plans to explore business opportunities involving U.S. Navy auxiliary support vessels and commercial ships, while also considering the production and supply of ship blocks and modules to U.S. shipyards. The joint venture intends to expand the scope of its business cooperation into port infrastructure in the future.

"The launch of HD Kiewit Shipbuilding is an important milestone demonstrating HD Hyundai's commitment and vision as a strategic partner in the U.S. shipbuilding industry," Choi said. "We will bring together our capabilities to contribute to the revitalization of the U.S. shipbuilding industry and the expansion of shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the United States, while continuing to identify new business opportunities."

"Drawing on Kiewit's capabilities, we will provide the workforce, facilities and expertise needed for this extensive, large-scale project," Johnson said. "We look forward to the opportunity to build a modern shipyard in the United States by combining our capabilities with HD Hyundai's world-class shipbuilding expertise."

                                                                                                             Kim So-young