South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries recently announced that, in line with its medium-to-long-term safety development roadmap for 2030, it will invest an additional 17 billion won (approximately $12.6667 million) in 2026 to bolster on-site safety capabilities. The initiative encompasses the implementation of metal surface wave communication technology, the deployment of visual sensors, and the upgrading of safety training systems.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries stated that its metal-surface wave communication technology aims to eliminate communication dead zones in areas such as enclosed spaces on ships. Following the conclusion of labor-management negotiations, visual sensors will be installed in high-risk areas to detect hazardous situations in real time. Additionally, the company will strengthen its safety organization and staffing by establishing a “Safety and Technology Department” tasked with improving production techniques and conducting on-site inspections, thereby enhancing on-site emergency response capabilities and professional expertise.
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced a comprehensive review of major safety incidents from the past decade, re-examining the preventive measures taken at the time to prevent such events from recurring.
Shipyards under HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have experienced multiple fatal accidents so far this year; this is likely one of the key reasons behind the company’s recent announcement of additional investment in safety measures.
In April, a fire broke out on a submarine undergoing repairs at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard, resulting in the death of a subcontracted worker responsible for sea trials. The worker was performing cleaning tasks inside the submarine when the incident occurred.
On July 9, a worker at the HD Hyundai M&S Ulsan Plant (a subsidiary of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, formerly HD Hyundai Mipo) tragically died after falling from a height while performing maintenance on a shipyard gantry crane.
On July 18, an Uzbek subcontracted worker (in his 20s) at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard tragically died after becoming trapped between a work gondola and the vessel’s superstructure while performing grinding work on the cargo tank of an LNG carrier under construction.
On July 24, a subcontracted worker (in his 30s) at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Gunsan Shipyard died after his head became trapped between a protruding lifting lug on a hull section and the protective guard of a winch while operating the securing winch in reverse.
On August 28, a subcontracted worker at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan Shipyard was found collapsed and deceased in a boiler room near the facility’s welfare amenities.
Due to the frequent occurrence of accidents, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor initiated a high-level on-site inspection—equivalent to a special inspection—at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries starting August 18.