HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), the intermediary holding company for HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding business, has signed a definitive agreement with Siemens Digital Industries Software for the implementation of a next-generation marine platform that will digitally connect the entire shipbuilding process.
“As a leader in industrial AI, automation and digital twin software, Siemens is uniquely positioned to help transform how shipyards design, build and sustain the next generation of vessels,” said Tony Hemmelgarn , President and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software.
“This strategic collaboration is about more than technology deployment, it’s about establishing a repeatable blueprint for modern shipbuilding. By combining Siemens’ digital capabilities with HD Hyundai’s operational excellence, we can help shipbuilders improve throughput, quality, and workforce productivity while strengthening global shipbuilding competitiveness.”
The platform is envisaged to integrate the entire shipbuilding process, from vessel design and production to supply chain management, quality control and maintenance, as well as sea trials, into a single 3D-model-based data environment powered by AI and digital technologies, enabling the use of consistent information across every stage of the process.
It will enable shipyards to transmit design changes and real-time production status updates directly to the production floor and supply chain, enabling informed decision-making to help prevent schedule delays and quality issues, HD Hyundai said.
To support this, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering plans to develop a virtual shipyard that mirrors actual shipyard operations, enabling the simulation of production processes and equipment operations in a digital environment, with the ultimate aim of establishing an autonomous manufacturing system that digitally connects every stage of ship construction.
The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C.
“AI is not merely a tool for improving productivity, but a transformative technology that is reshaping how ships are designed, built and operated,” said H.K. Kim , President & CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering. “By integrating AI, digital twin, and automation technologies into a connected digital shipyard environment, we aim to establish a future-ready model for the shipbuilding industry. Together with Siemens, we look forward to helping accelerate the digital transformation of shipyards worldwide, while contributing to the modernization and competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.”