WASHINGTON — South Korean firm HD Hyundai and North American Kiewit Maritime Co. have unveiled plans to launch a new shipyard in the US aiming to build both US Navy auxiliary and commercial vessels.
The proposed shipyard, which the companies referred to as HD Kiewit Shipbuilding LLC, will also be designed to produce ship blocks and modules for the US shipbuilding industry, the firms said.
“Our proposed joint venture HD Kiewit Shipbuilding marks an important milestone in HD Hyundai’s journey to become a strategic partner to the U.S. shipbuilding industry,” Hannae Choi, executive vice president and head of corporate planning division of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, said in a statement on Thursday. “Building on HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding technology and shipyard operating capabilities, we will contribute to strengthening the U.S. shipbuilding industry and expanding shipbuilding cooperation between the United States and South Korea.”
The new joint venture comes after South Korea signed off on investing $350 billion in US projects that President Donald Trump hand picked — including $150 billion in US shipbuilding — in exchange for a reduction in tariffs on South Korean imports in July 2025.
It’s unclear exactly where the shipyard will be located, but the companies said that they plan to start construction on the new shipyard in 2027 on an “existing industrial site” with full operations expected to launch in 2029. The shipyard aims to support up to 3,000 full-time jobs.
“This approach would create modern vessel production facilities while making use of an existing industrial location with deep water and unrestricted access to the Gulf,” HD Hyundai and Kiewit said in a press release Thursday, signaling the yard could be based in that region.
“Advanced solutions — including digital twins, automated production systems and robotic welding — are intended to improve productivity, quality and safety throughout the shipbuilding process,” the release said.
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HD Hyundai is South Korea’s largest shipbuilder, and has a history of partnerships with US defense companies. For example, the firm signed a memorandum of understanding with HII last year to “explore opportunities” to work together on both military and commercial shipbuilding initiatives. The two also launched a pilot program in August to deploy intelligent mechanized welding equipment at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, in alignment with the original partnership.
Meanwhile, Kiewit Maritime Co. is an affiliate of the Kiewit Corporation — a North American construction and engineering firm that has a track record of building bases, shipyards, and other national defense projects for the US military.
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