현대중공업과 HII, MOU 체결

[위종민]

HII와 HD현대중공업, 조선업 협력 위한 MOU 체결

미국의 대표적인 군함 건조 기업인 헌팅턴 잉걸스 인더스트리(HII)와 한국의 HD현대중공업이 조선업 분야에서 협력을 강화하기 위한 양해각서(MOU)를 체결했습니다. 이 협약은 양사가 보유한 전문 지식을 결합하여 기술 혁신을 촉진하고 생산 효율성을 극대화하는 것을 목표로 합니다. 특히, 미국은 중국의 조선업 지배력에 대응하기 위해 국내 조선 산업을 활성화하려는 전략을 추진하고 있으며, 이번 협력은 이러한 노력의 일환으로 해석됩니다. HD현대중공업은 전 세계 조선 시장의 약 10%를 차지하며, 첨단 수상함, 잠수함, 지원 선박 등을 설계 및 건조하는 등 방위 산업 분야에서도 중요한 역할을 수행하고 있습니다. 이번 협약은 양국의 해양 산업 기반을 강화하고, 증가하는 지정학적 긴장 속에서 글로벌 방위 역량을 향상시키는 데 기여할 것으로 기대됩니다. ​

HII and HD Hyundai Sign MOU on Shipbuilding

HII and HD Hyundai Sign MOU on Shipbuilding

FILE PHOTO: Sections of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) are moved into position at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding. (U.S. Navy photo by Chris Oxley courtesy of Newport News Shipbuilding/Released)

HII and HD Hyundai Sign MOU on Shipbuilding

Mike Schuler

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April 7, 2025

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HII (NYSE: HII) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday at the Sea Air Space expo in National Harbor, Maryland, seeking to boost collaboration on military and commercial shipbuilding.

The agreement between HII, America’s largest military shipbuilder, and HHI represents a concrete step toward strengthening the maritime industrial base of both the United States and South Korea.

“Today’s agreement reflects our commitment to explore all opportunities to expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity in support of national security,” said Brian Blanchette, HII Executive Vice President and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding. “By working with our shipbuilding allies and sharing best practices, we believe this MOU offers real potential to help accelerate delivery of quality ships.”

The collaboration aims to leverage both companies’ expertise to advance technological innovation and maximize production efficiency. Won-ho Joo, chief executive of HHI’s naval & special ship business unit, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to “expand our expertise in shipbuilding” and “deliver even greater value to our customers.”

HHI, the world’s leading shipbuilder with a 10% market share, has delivered more than 2,300 ships globally as of 2023. As a licensed defense contractor for the Korean Navy, HHI designs and constructs advanced surface ships, submarines, and support vessels.

This partnership builds on recent momentum in U.S.-Korean maritime cooperation. Last month, Hanwha Ocean achieved a milestone by completing maintenance work on the USNS Wally Schirra, marking the first time a Korean shipyard has serviced a U.S. Navy vessel. The six-month project at Geoje Shipyard included comprehensive hull and engine repairs, demonstrating the yard’s capability to meet strict U.S. Navy standards.

The agreement aligns with broader U.S. government initiatives to revitalize American shipbuilding. The Trump administration recently announced plans for a new White House office of shipbuilding and tax incentives for domestic builders. These measures follow a USTR investigation that found China’s maritime practices, including state subsidies and unfair labor practices, have significantly impacted U.S. maritime capabilities.

The agreement comes at a critical time when U.S. shipbuilding output has dramatically declined to fewer than five ships annually, while China produces approximately 1,700 vessels per year. China’s market dominance has grown from less than 5% in 1999 to over 50% in 2023.

Former Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro laid groundwork for this type of cooperation as part of his Maritime Statecraft initiative aimed at countering China’s growing influence in global shipbuilding. Part of the effort involved advocating for partnerships with more shipbuilders, both domestically and from close allies like South Korea and Japan.

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