South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding business, has secured a major contract with compatriot maritime transport firm HMM for eight 13,400 TEU dual-fuel container ships.
The order, unveiled on November 23, is valued at approximately $1.46 billion. HD Hyundai officials describe this agreement as the company’s largest container ship order in 18 years, marking a milestone not seen since the 2007 shipbuilding supercycle.
Once completed, the vessels will be fitted with dual-fuel engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and feature an enlarged fuel tank—reportedly expanded by around 50%—to boost operational efficiency.
Of the eight ships, two will be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), while HD Hyundai Samho will construct the remaining six. Each vessel will measure 337 meters in length, 51 meters in width, and 27.9 meters in height, with phased deliveries to HMM scheduled through the first half of 2029.
This latest contract strengthens the long-standing partnership between the Seoul-based shipping giant and one of South Korea’s leading shipbuilding groups. In mid-October, HMM selected HD Hyundai Heavy and Hanwha Ocean to construct twelve LNG dual-fuel containerships and two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) in a deal estimated at KRW 4 trillion (about $2.9 billion).
The order aligns with HMM’s strategic plan to acquire around 70 eco-friendly vessels by 2030, supporting its broader mission to establish a carbon-neutral logistics ecosystem by 2045. Company representatives also revealed plans to allocate KRW 14.4 trillion toward sustainability initiatives, including low-carbon vessels and green infrastructure.
Meanwhile, HD KSOE has secured orders for 69 container ships so far in 2025, representing roughly 720,000 TEUs—its highest volume among domestic shipbuilders. Additionally, on November 20, HD Hyundai announced that it had become the world’s first shipbuilder to construct and deliver 5,000 vessels, achieving this milestone half a century after its inaugural delivery in 1974.
