To accelerate its expansion into the North American market, HD Hyundai will partner with Kiewit Offshore Services (KOS), the largest construction engineering firm in the United States, to build a shipyard in the U.S.
On October 22 (local time), HD Hyundai and Kiewit signed an agreement to establish a joint venture, “HD Kiewit Shipbuilding.” The project entails the construction of an advanced, “smart” shipyard on an industrial site in the U.S., with groundbreaking scheduled for 2027 and full-scale production slated for 2029. Notably, the project involves building a new shipyard from the ground up, rather than acquiring or retrofitting an existing facility.
The new shipyard will be the first in the United States to adopt the “Future Shipyard” model and digital production technologies currently being advanced by HD Hyundai. The entire process—from design to production—will incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as digital twins, automated production systems, and robotic welding to establish a data-driven operational framework. The establishment of this shipyard will not only enhance production efficiency and product quality but also help address the long-standing shortage of skilled labor in the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
Once the shipyard is fully operational, it is expected to create approximately 3,000 local jobs. HD Hyundai stated that it plans to focus on training local workers through its own technical education programs and to strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding supply chain.
As previously reported, on July 17 of this year, HD Hyundai and KOS announced the signing of a “Strategic Partnership Agreement” aimed at collaborating on shipbuilding projects for the U.S. market and other strategic areas of mutual interest. The establishment of HD Kiewit Shipbuilding has further deepened this strategic partnership.