HD Hyundai to Build U.S. Shipyard, with Plans Spanning Warship Construction and Supply Chain Development

[Financial News] HD Hyundai will begin building a new shipyard in the United States next year. To that end, it will establish a joint venture with Kiewit, the largest U.S. construction, engineering and infrastructure company. Kiewit entered into a strategic partnership with HD Hyundai in July and has since worked with the company on joint shipbuilding in the United States and the production of ship blocks and modules.
According to HD Hyundai on the 23rd, Choi Han-nae, planning division head at HDKSOE, and Chad Johnson, CEO of Kiewit Maritime, signed an agreement on the 22nd (local time) in Houston, in the presence of executives from both companies, to establish the joint venture HD Kiewit Shipbuilding. The agreement reflects their determination to combine HD Hyundai’s technological capabilities and shipyard operating know-how with Kiewit’s ability to carry out large-scale fabrication and construction projects to build the best shipyard in the United States.
HD Kiewit Shipbuilding aims to break ground on a new shipyard next year and begin full-scale operations in 2029. The plan is to build a state-of-the-art smart shipyard on an industrial site in the United States. HD Hyundai sees significance in building a new shipyard from the ground up, unlike Hanwha Group, which acquired Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia and operates it as Hanwha Philly Shipyard. The company says the project can substantially expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity and make a significant contribution to rebuilding the industry.
Once the shipyard is operational, it is expected to employ around 3,000 local workers. It will apply a “future shipyard” model that uses advanced technologies HD Hyundai is developing, including digital twins, automated production and robotic welding. The entire process, from design through production, will be data-driven. The company expects this to improve productivity, safety and quality, as well as help address the shortage of skilled workers.
HD Kiewit Shipbuilding aims to win contracts to build U.S. Navy logistics support ships and commercial vessels. The U.S. Navy is pursuing the acquisition of Next-Generation Logistics Ships (NGLS). According to Congressional Research Service data, the procurement cost for each light variant in the same class is approximately 630 billion won. Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Philly Shipyard are currently participating in the design phase with U.S. naval ship design firm VARD, but the new shipyard is expected to highlight its competitiveness in future full-scale contract competitions.
HD Hyundai and Kiewit also plan to pursue a business manufacturing and supplying ship blocks and modules to U.S. shipyards. Their aim is to contribute to strengthening the shipbuilding supply chain, rather than simply increasing the number of U.S. shipbuilding docks by building a shipyard. If the business takes hold, they plan to expand into port infrastructure as well.
Choi Han-nae, planning division head at HDKSOE, said, “The launch of HD Kiewit Shipbuilding is an important milestone that demonstrates HD Hyundai’s commitment and vision as a strategic partner to the U.S. shipbuilding industry. We will contribute to rebuilding the U.S. shipbuilding industry and expanding shipbuilding cooperation between the United States and South Korea, while continuing to identify new business opportunities.”
Chad Johnson, CEO of Kiewit Maritime, voiced optimism, saying, “I expect this to be an opportunity to build a modern shipyard in the United States by combining with HD Hyundai’s world-class shipbuilding expertise.”

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter