HD Hyundai said in a statement that it held a signing ceremony on June 19 with Tampa Ship to establish a strategic and comprehensive collaboration that outlines a multi-faceted alliance to build medium-sized LNG dual-fuel containerships at Tampa Ship.
The partners are targeting first deliveries in 2028.
As part of the collaboration, HD Hyundai will provide critical support to Tampa Ship in vessel design, procurement of specialized equipment, and transfer of advanced shipbuilding technology.
HD Hyundai said it will also participate in the fabrication of certain ship blocks and invest in key technical infrastructure to enhance the capability of Tampa Ship.
Tampa Ship, located in Tampa, Florida, has a long legacy in US shipbuilding and is one of five shipyards operated by ECO across the country.
Through this initiative, Tampa Ship is positioned to “lead the revitalization of US commercial shipbuilding and to help address the shortage of domestically constructed vessels.”
According to Clarksons Research, US yards received orders for only three 3,600 teu-class containerships between 2022 and 2024.
This collaboration between HD Hyundai and Tampa Ship aims to “address this gap and re-establish the United States as a competitive force in the global shipbuilding industry.”
Through this collaboration, the parties also expressed intent to explore further opportunities beyond commercial containerships, including collaboration on other potential fleet classes as well as heavy industrial port equipment.
This initiative follows HD Hyundai’s ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation with US maritime and defense stakeholders.
Earlier this year, the group entered into agreements with Huntington Ingalls Industries and Fairbanks Morse Defense, and continues to support academic partnerships, including with the University of Michigan and Seoul National University, to foster future talent in naval architecture and marine engineering.
