HD Hyundai and Kiewit to build 3,000-job Gulf Coast shipyard by 2029
South Korea’s HD Hyundai and Kiewit Maritime will develop a $150bn smart shipyard in Texas with deep-water access.
South Korea’s HD Hyundai and U.S. construction giant Kiewit Maritime have announced a joint venture to develop a new shipyard on the Gulf Coast, aiming to create thousands of jobs and modernize American shipbuilding capacity. The project, named HD Kiewit Shipbuilding, will repurpose an existing industrial site with deep-water access to the Gulf of Mexico.
The companies plan to break ground in 2027, with full-scale operations expected by 2029. Once completed, the facility could employ up to 3,000 workers. The venture will combine HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding expertise with Kiewit’s large-scale fabrication capabilities, supported by the infrastructure of Kiewit Offshore Services.
Hannae Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Planning Division at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. “Our proposed joint venture marks a key step in HD Hyundai’s efforts to become a strategic partner to the U.S. shipbuilding industry,” Choi stated. “By leveraging our shipbuilding technology and operational experience, we aim to strengthen the U.S. maritime sector and deepen cooperation between the two nations.”
Advanced manufacturing and broader ambitions: HD Hyundai
The new shipyard will implement HD Hyundai’s Future of Shipyard (FOS) model, integrating digital twins, automated production systems, and robotic welding to improve efficiency, quality, and safety. The facility will focus on constructing naval auxiliary vessels, commercial ships, and fabricating ship blocks and modules for other U.S. shipbuilders. The partners also plan to expand into maritime infrastructure projects.
The initiative aligns with South Korea’s commitment to invest $150 billion in U.S. shipbuilding as part of a broader $350 billion investment pledge made during trade negotiations with the Trump administration. This effort reflects the administration’s push to revitalize domestic maritime capabilities through international partnerships.
HD Hyundai has been actively expanding its U.S. presence, previously announcing collaborations with companies like HII and Edison Chouest Offshore. The Trump administration has also explored the “Finland model” for shipbuilding, where foreign expertise is used to build initial vessels before transferring production to the U.S.
Under this approach, two Finnish shipyards are currently constructing the first polar icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard, with plans to shift later production stateside. Reports indicate that President Trump has discussed shipbuilding needs with South Korea’s leadership, including proposals to build two warships and two non-combatant support vessels in South Korea.
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