HD Hyundai has finalized a $1.456 billion contract for eight ultra-large container ships, marking its largest container-ship order since 2007. The deal was announced on 23 November by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the shipbuilding holding unit of HD Hyundai. The vessels, ordered by HMM, will each have a capacity of 13,400 TEU.
The newbuilds will measure 337 m in length, 51 m in width, and 27.9 m in height, and will be fitted with LNG dual-fuel engines. Their fuel-tank capacity has been increased by about 50% to improve operational efficiency. Construction will be divided between two HD Hyundai yards: two ships at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and six at HD Hyundai Samho, with deliveries scheduled sequentially through the first half of 2029.
With this order, HD Hyundai has reached its highest container-ship volume since the shipbuilding supercycle of 2007, when global demand rose to 793,473 TEU. HD KSOE has so far secured 69 container ships, totaling 720,000 TEU, the highest tally among South Korean builders this year.
The company said its vessels show competitive operating costs across their entire service life, even when initial prices are higher than those of competing designs.
Since 2023, HD Hyundai has fitted new vessels with HiNAS Control, an autonomous navigation-assistance system developed by Avikus, its autonomous-technology affiliate. Operational data shows the system cuts carbon emissions by 15% and improves fuel efficiency by the same margin.
An HD Hyundai representative said the company continues to strengthen its technical capabilities and maintain customer confidence, adding that it plans to support decarbonization efforts in shipbuilding and shipping through eco-focused, high-efficiency vessels.
