HD Hyundai to Build Container Ships in US

Ship building giant HD Hyundai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tampa Ship (part of the Edison Chouest Offshore group) that will see the company building container ships in the US.

The agreement will see HD Hyundai building a range of LNG dual-fuel container ships at Tampa Ship - a major US shipyard - with the first deliveries expected to take place in 2028. 

The collaboration will see HD Hyundai providing Tampa Ship with vessel design, procurement of specialised equipment and the transfer of specialised equipment. HD Hyundai is also expected to participate in the fabrication of certain ship blocks and will invest in key technical infrastructure to enhance Tampa Ship’s capabilities. 

Located in Tampa, Florida, Tampa Ship has a long and storied history of ship building and is one of five yards operated across the US by the Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) group. 

Investment - like that agreed by HD Hyundai - in US shipbuilding comes at a time when the US government is seeking to completely revitalise the industry. April 2025 saw the introduction of the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act. This act aims to; expand the US-flagged international fleet, boost US ship building capacity, strengthen the maritime workforce, and enhance maritime security. 

The proposed revitalisation of domestic shipbuilding follows news from Clarksons Research that only three 3,600 TEU-class container ships were built at US yards between the years of 2022 and 2024.

A spokesperson for HD Hyundai commented on the MoU, saying: 

“The United States is a strong ally and an important business partner for us. Through our collaboration with ECO, we aim to actively support US efforts to revitalise its shipbuilding industry and strengthen national security”.

Through the MoU, HD Hyundai and ECO are expected to explore further opportunities beyond commercial container ships, including collaboration on other potential fleet classes as well as heavy industrial port equipment.

This deal is one of a number of others that HD Hyundai has committed to in the US. Earlier this year, HD Hyundai entered into agreements with Huntington Ingalls Industries and Fairbanks Morse Defense. The company is also supporting a number of academic partnerships including with the University of Michigan and Seoul National University to foster talent in naval architecture and marine engineering. 

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