HD Hyundai and Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd. have entered into a strategic partnership to pursue shipbuilding opportunities in the United States, including the fabrication of ship blocks and modules.
The agreement was signed on 16 July 2026 at the Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd. headquarters in Ingleside, Texas. Hannae Choi, executive vice president and head of the Corporate Planning Office at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Chad Johnson, president of Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd., took part in the signing.
Under the agreement, the companies will examine U.S. shipbuilding programs and other areas of mutual interest. The cooperation will bring together HD Hyundai’s capabilities in ship design, procurement, manufacturing and shipbuilding technology with Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd.’s experience in fabrication, construction and complex project delivery.
Ship block and module production will be among the areas considered. The companies will also assess how their manufacturing and project execution capabilities could be applied to domestic shipbuilding work.
The partnership is intended to support additional U.S. fabrication capacity, domestic manufacturing and maritime supply-chain resilience.
Choi said the cooperation would support U.S. shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure. He added that the companies would also consider other areas of collaboration, including opportunities involving floating assets.
Johnson said the agreement combines Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd.’s fabrication and engineering, procurement and construction experience with HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding capabilities.
HD Hyundai has worked in commercial, offshore and naval vessel construction for over 50 years through shipyards in South Korea and other countries. Its maritime operations include engineering, procurement, manufacturing, shipbuilding technology and marine engines.
Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd., part of Kiewit Corporation, carries out fabrication and marine construction work from facilities on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Its capabilities cover large-scale fabrication, engineering, procurement, construction and project execution for commercial and government shipbuilding programs.
HD Hyundai said its participation would support U.S. shipbuilding programs under the Korea–U.S. industrial cooperation framework.
