Name

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co.

Legal name

Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd.

Website

https://hdksoe.co.kr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Shipbuilding

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) Newbuilds (PSV, AHTS, ERRV) (IMAJACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

FPSO/FSO Hull Construction & Conversion (IMAJACAC), LPG & Ammonia Carrier Shipbuilding (IMAJAAAE), Offshore Wind & Renewable Support Vessel Construction (SOV, CTV, WTIV) (IMAJACAG), Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN)

Keywords

• Commercial shipbuilding
• LNG carrier construction
• Offshore plant engineering
• Naval vessel construction
• Marine engine manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Shipbuilding Contracts: Primary revenue from designing and constructing commercial vessels including LNG carriers, container ships, LPG carriers, ammonia carriers, VLGCs, and specialized vessels. Contracts are secured through direct sales to global shipping companies with deliveries scheduled over 2-4 year periods. Revenue recognized upon vessel delivery with progress payments during construction.
2. Offshore Plant Construction: Revenue from offshore oil and gas production facilities including FPSOs, drilling rigs, and offshore platforms. Long-cycle projects with significant contract values.
3. Technology and Licensing: Revenue from technology transfer, licensing arrangements, and technical services for shipyard development projects, particularly in international partnerships such as India shipyard developments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE) is the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai Group's shipbuilding operations. It designs and constructs commercial vessels including LNG carriers, container ships, VLCCs, LPG/ammonia carriers, and specialized naval vessels through its operating subsidiaries HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Samho. The company also delivers offshore oil and gas production facilities, marine engines, eco-friendly propulsion systems, and next-generation digital shipbuilding platforms.

Product overview

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) is the intermediary holding company of HD Hyundai's shipbuilding operations. The company operates as a diversified shipbuilding conglomerate offering: (1) Core shipbuilding products including LNG carriers, container ships, VLCCs, LPG/ammonia carriers, and special naval vessels; (2) Propulsion solutions including gas handling systems and eco-friendly dual-fuel engines (LNG, LPG, methanol, ammonia); (3) Digital technologies including HiNAS Control autonomous navigation, AI-CHS cargo management system, and integrated digital shipbuilding platforms; (4) Next-generation technologies including SMR-powered vessels, humanoid welding robots, and Total Hull Care Solutions with autonomous underwater robots. The company functions as the technology intermediary coordinating subsidiaries HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Samho, and Avikus to deliver comprehensive shipbuilding solutions from design through production and operation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LNG Carriers
• Container Ships
• VLCCs and Tankers
• Offshore Plants
• Special and Naval Vessels
• Marine Engines and Machinery
• Eco-Friendly Vessel Propulsion Solutions
• HiNAS Control Autonomous Navigation System AI-based Level 2 autonomous navigation solution supplied by subsidiary Avikus that sets optimal routes, maintains vessel speed, and improves fuel efficiency without crew intervention. Largest single supply contract covers 40 HMM vessels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Q1 2026 revenue reached 8.14 trillion won, up 20.2% year-on-year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• MalconcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Cooperation agreement to jointly develop eco-friendly Korea-type Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for offshore wind farms. HD KSOE develops propulsion systems while Malcon handles ship design and commercialization.
• University of British ColumbiastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Research agreement for advanced naval vessel technologies including AI-based ship design, digital twin simulation, and autonomous navigation systems. Part of HD Hyundai's campaign for Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.
• Lloyd's RegistercoreTechnology or Integration · 2 June 2026Joint development project to design 185,000 cbm LNG carriers with hybrid electric propulsion systems. Focuses on system architecture, redundancy philosophy, and battery integration safety verification for broader market adoption.
• GTT (Gaztransport & Technigaz)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 May 2026GTT provides tank designs for LNG carriers constructed by HD KSOE. The partnership includes Mark III Flex membrane containment system for four 177,000 m³ LNG carriers with three-cargo-tank configuration for BW LNG, achieving 0.08% boil-off rate per day.
• American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)coreTechnology or Integration · 8 May 2026MoU for digital technologies in shipbuilding including Digital Threads, autonomous vessel systems, and cybersecurity solutions. Partnership explores 3D model-based approval processes and integration with HD KSOE's Software Defined Vessel architecture.
• Chouest GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 8 May 2026HD Hyundai Robotics supplies ArcLift GO robotic welding systems to Chouest Group for deployment across three shipyards in North America and one in Brazil under Maritime and Strategic Global Alliance initiative.
• Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Agreement between BEML, HD KSOE, and HD Hyundai Samho to jointly design and manufacture next-generation maritime and port cranes in India, addressing over 90% current dependence on Chinese crane imports.
• Hydrogen CouncilminorOthers · 14 April 2026New member of world's largest CEO-led global hydrogen alliance, bringing capabilities spanning hydrogen infrastructure, production technologies, and end-use applications including renewable ammonia shipments.
• Persona AIstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Joint development agreement with HD Hyundai Robotics to develop and commercialize AI-powered humanoid welding robots for shipyard applications. Addresses labor shortages while improving safety and productivity.
• ABS (for Nuclear-Powered Vessels)coreTechnology or Integration · 12 March 2026Joint development project to assess technical feasibility of nuclear-powered electric propulsion systems for 16,000 TEU container ship using small modular reactor technology.
• Cochin Shipyard LimitedstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026$500 million joint venture in Kochi for ship block fabrication facility with 120,000 metric tonnes annual output, creating about 2,000 direct jobs. First time a global shipbuilding major directly invests in core shipbuilding infrastructure in India.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or Integration · 17 February 2026Preferred partner for integrated digital platform connecting ship design and production processes. Platform based on Siemens Xcelerator and digital twin technologies forms core of HD Hyundai's 'Future of Shipyard' project targeting completion by 2030.
• AvikuscoreTechnology or Integration · 15 January 2026Avikus, HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation subsidiary, supplies HiNAS Control system to HMM for 40 vessels. Partnership includes joint research for AI-based autonomous navigation technology advancement.
• Hyundai Motor CompanystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025MoU with HD KSOE and Pusan National University to co-develop maritime fuel cell system for liquefied hydrogen carriers. Integrates hydrogen dual fuel engines with Hyundai's fuel cell technology for hybrid electrified propulsion.
• Siemens (US Shipbuilding)strategicTechnology or Integration · 4 November 2025MoU to digitize shipbuilding operations in the United States using Siemens Xcelerator platform with digital twin, model-based systems engineering, and product lifecycle management technologies.
• TerraPowerstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025Partnership with Bill Gates' nuclear startup for small modular reactor projects including manufacturing reactor vessels for TerraPower's 345-megawatt Natrium reactor. HD Hyundai invested $30 million in TerraPower in 2022.
• H-Line ShippingstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025MoU to co-develop AI-based autonomous and eco-friendly ship technology integrating Avikus' HiNAS, HD Hyundai Marine Solution's OceanWise, and HD KSOE's AI-CHS cargo management system.
• MIT Maritime ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2025Founding member of consortium with MIT, ABS, and Capital Clean Energy Carriers to address greenhouse gas emissions in maritime shipping. Research areas include nuclear technology, autonomous operation, and alternative fuels.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights13 records

Broad incumbents

• Fincantieri: Italy-headquartered global shipbuilder with strong naval and cruise ship segments. Comparable to HD KSOE in naval vessel capabilities (relevant for Canadian Patrol Submarine Project competition) and in the broader diversification between commercial and defense shipbuilding.
• China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC): World's largest shipbuilding group formed through the merger of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and China State Shipbuilding Corporation. Holds 61% global market share and competes with HD KSOE across all commercial vessel segments, particularly in container ships and bulk carriers where state-backed cost advantages apply.

Regional players

• Meyer Werft: German shipbuilder specializing in cruise ships and complex specialized vessels. Operates as a European regional player with comparable high-spec vessel engineering capabilities, though focused on a different segment (passenger vessels) than HD KSOE's commercial and naval focus.
• Sembcorp Marine: Singapore-based shipbuilder and offshore engineering company with strong presence in offshore rigs, FPSOs, and naval vessels. Comparable to HD KSOE in offshore plant construction (particularly FPSO hull construction) and in the Southeast Asian shipbuilding ecosystem.
• Tsuneishi Shipbuilding: Japanese shipbuilder with operations in Japan, the Philippines, and China. Comparable to HD KSOE in mid-size commercial vessel construction and in Southeast Asian shipyard footprint (relevant given HD Hyundai's Philippines expansion).

Emerging players

• Yangzijiang Shipbuilding: China's largest private shipbuilder with significant global order book in container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers. Competes with HD KSOE on price in mid-tier commercial vessels and represents the competitive pressure from Chinese commercial shipbuilding expansion.

Direct peers

• Samsung Heavy Industries: One of South Korea's Big Three shipbuilders, competing head-to-head with HD KSOE in LNG carriers, container ships, tankers, and offshore platforms. Strong overlap in product portfolio, customer base (global shipping companies), and technology positioning in eco-friendly vessels.
• HD Hyundai Heavy Industries: Wholly-owned operating subsidiary of HD KSOE that executes the actual shipbuilding operations at the Ulsan mega-shipyard (world's largest). Functionally the operational counterpart to HD KSOE's holding company role, with directly comparable vessel portfolio and customer relationships.
• Hanwha Ocean: Formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), Hanwha Ocean is the third of Korea's Big Three shipbuilders and the closest direct competitor in LNG carrier construction. Direct overlap in large commercial vessel newbuilds, offshore platforms, and naval vessel programs.
• Imabari Shipbuilding: Japan's largest shipbuilder with significant market share in bulk carriers and container ships. Competes with HD KSOE in the upper-tier of Asian commercial shipbuilding, particularly for Japanese shipping company customers and in the eco-friendly vessel transition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hd-korea-shipbuilding-offshore-engineering-co-ltd-hd-ksoe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co.