HD Hyundai and Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd. (KOS) have announced entry into a brand-new Strategic Partnership Agreement to pursue joint collaboration on shipbuilding projects serving both the US market and other areas of mutual strategic interest.
The agreement aims to support the expansion of US shipbuilding capacity, strengthen the nation’s maritime industrial base, increase domestic manufacturing capability, and provide a framework for the companies to explore additional opportunities that leverage their complementary capabilities.
Signed during a ceremony held at the KOS headquarters in Ingleside, Texas on 16 July; officials present included 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.
Under the agreement, both companies will collaborate on opportunities supporting shipbuilding programmes throughout the US, including the fabrication of ship blocks and modules.
The partnership aims to combine HD Hyundai’s ship design, advanced manufacturing, procurement and shipbuilding technology experience with Kiewit’s capabilities in large-scale fabrication, construction and complex project execution in order to explore opportunities to leverage advanced manufacturing methods and proven production practices to help expand domestic shipbuilding capacity.
Hannae Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of the Corporate Planning Office at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, said:The United States is a strong ally and a key business partner for us.
Through our cooperation with KOS, we intend to actively support the expansion of U.S. shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure, while also exploring additional areas of collaboration, including opportunities involving floating assets.
Chad Johnson, President of Kiewit, said:Kiewit has a long history of delivering some of North America’s most complex industrial and marine projects.
By combining our extensive fabrication and EPC project execution expertise with HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding experience, we’re creating new opportunities to support the growth of U.S. shipbuilding while helping strengthen the nation’s maritime industrial base for the future.
