HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on Nov. 10 that it has signed a shipbuilding contract with Regional Container Lines, the world’s 21st-largest shipping company by operating capacity, for two container ships. The contract is valued at a total of 435.3 billion won (approximately $299.65 million).
The newly ordered ships are ultra-large 13,800-TEU-class vessels measuring 337 meters in length, 51 meters in width, and 27.3 meters in height. In particular, a scrubber – an exhaust gas reduction device – is installed, equipping the ships with the ability to comply with environmental regulations. The ships will be built at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard and delivered sequentially to the owner by October 2028. As this marks the first shipbuilding contract between HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Regional Container Lines, further collaboration expansion is expected.
With the latest order, HD Hyundai has secured a total of 61 container ship contracts so far this year. This represents more than double last year’s 28 and 2023’s 29, showcasing the company’s overwhelming competitiveness in the container ship segment.
According to British shipbuilding and maritime analysis firm Clarkson Research, global demand for container ships is expected to grow by an average of 2.8 percent annually through 2037. This is because trade flows are projected to remain solid despite global tariff conditions, and trade in emerging markets is expected to see long-term growth. In particular, supply chain restructuring by shipping companies amid U.S.-China tensions is acting as a factor raising expectations for additional orders for domestic shipbuilders.
An HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official stated, “In the container ship sector, where demand remains strong, we are continuing to secure orders based on our eco-friendly technology and stable quality management capabilities,” adding, “We will actively pioneer new markets leveraging our unmatched technological strength and shipbuilding record.”
Source: BusinessKorea