The shipbuilding group HD Hyundai and the US construction firm Kiewit are planning to build a new shipyard in the United States. From 2029, both merchant ships and vessels for the US Navy are to be built there.
The two companies signed an agreement in Houston to establish the joint venture HD Kiewit Shipbuilding. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the shipyard expected to commence operations two years later. According to the partners, up to 3,000 jobs could be created there.
The exact location of the new shipyard has not yet been decided. The search is on for an existing industrial site with deep-water access to the Gulf of Mexico. The companies have not yet disclosed the scale of the investment either.
Shipyard to be largely automated
In its planning, HD Hyundai is relying on its ‘Future of Shipyard’ concept. Digital twins are to support production processes, alongside automated manufacturing systems and welding robots. HD Hyundai is contributing its experience in shipbuilding, whilst Kiewit is to be primarily responsible for the planning and construction of the shipyard. In addition to merchant ships and naval support vessels, ship sections and modules for other US shipyards could also be manufactured there in future.
The collaboration comes as no surprise. Back in July, HD Hyundai and Kiewit had already agreed a strategic partnership to explore opportunities for joint shipbuilding projects in the US.
With this new facility, the partners aim to benefit from the planned expansion of the American shipbuilding industry. The US has been striving for some time to strengthen its shipyard capacities and reduce its dependence on foreign shipbuilders. South Korean conglomerates are playing an important role in this. Unlike in the case of acquiring existing shipyards, HD Hyundai and Kiewit are focusing on establishing a new production facility.
This is not the first partnership between Korean and US companies to be initiated since the publication of Donald Trump’s extensive shipbuilding plans. For example, the Hanwha Group has acquired the US shipyard Philly Shipyard through its shipbuilding division , formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering . There have also been political discussions regarding shipyard slots in Korea.
