HD Hyundai to build advanced smart shipyard in US with Kiewit

HD Hyundai will establish a joint venture with Kiewit, the largest engineering, procurement and construction company in the United States, to build a shipyard on American soil.

HD Hyundai announced Friday that it signed the agreement with Kiewit on Thursday (local time). The signing ceremony was attended by Choi Han-nae, head of planning at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Chad Johnson, CEO of Kiewit Maritime, along with other senior executives from both companies. The two firms have been discussing joint production arrangements in the United States since signing a strategic partnership in July.

The joint venture will operate under the name HD Kiewit Shipbuilding, combining HD Hyundai's world-class shipbuilding technology and shipyard management expertise with Kiewit's large-scale EPC execution capabilities.

HD Kiewit Shipbuilding plans to break ground in 2027 and begin full operations in 2029 at an industrial site in the United States. The facility will be the first to adopt HD Hyundai's Future of Shipyard model.

The Future of Shipyard, or FOS, is HD Hyundai's smart shipyard initiative in which every stage of production — from digital twin technology and automated manufacturing systems to robotic welding — runs on a data-driven basis. Through the model, HD Hyundai also aims to address the shortage of skilled workers in the US market.

HD Hyundai has emphasized that it is building an entirely new shipyard rather than acquiring an existing, aging one. "The new shipyard will accelerate the expansion of shipbuilding capacity and the development of a shipbuilding ecosystem in the United States, and contribute to the revitalization and strengthening of the American shipbuilding industry," a company official said. Once fully operational, the shipyard is expected to employ about 3,000 workers locally.

Going forward, HD Kiewit Shipbuilding plans to pursue business opportunities in US Navy auxiliary vessels and commercial shipping, while also exploring the manufacture and supply of ship blocks and modules to American shipyards. The venture also intends to expand its cooperation into port infrastructure over time.

"The launch of HD Kiewit Shipbuilding is an important milestone that demonstrates HD Hyundai's commitment and vision as a strategic partner for the US shipbuilding industry," Choi said. "We will pool our capabilities to contribute to the revitalization of American shipbuilding and the expansion of Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation, and continue to identify new business opportunities."

Johnson said Kiewit would provide the workforce, facilities and know-how needed for this broad, large-scale project. "Combined with HD Hyundai's world-class shipbuilding expertise, we expect this to be an opportunity to establish a modern shipyard in the United States," he said.