HD Hyundai announced on the 23rd that a delegation from Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) visited South Korea to discuss detailed cooperation plans for the joint construction of container ships in the United States.
The delegation, including Dino Chouest, the representative of ECO, along with more than 10 key executives and engineers, inspected HD Hyundai's global R&D center and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Mipo shipyards for two days starting on the 22nd.
At the global R&D center, HD Hyundai briefed the ECO delegation on cutting-edge construction technology and capabilities, and demonstrated the operational status of vessels currently under construction and in operation worldwide.
They then visited the automated solution development site, where they proposed on-site application plans for automation solutions and robotic welding technology. Both companies believe that expanding local infrastructure and enhancing production capabilities are essential for increasing collaboration in shipbuilding in the United States.
HD Hyundai opened the shipbuilding site at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Mipo shipyards, explaining HD Hyundai's design and production processes, dock operations and management methods, and automation systems. Additionally, they allowed the ECO delegation to board an actual large container ship.
A meeting between top executives also took place. Chung Kee-sun, vice chairman of HD Hyundai, met with Chouest ECO's representative and said, "HD Hyundai supports efforts to rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding industry," adding that "the joint shipbuilding work between the two companies taking place in the United States will serve as an excellent precedent for shipbuilding cooperation between the two countries."
Vice Chairman Chung and Chouest agreed to expand cooperation not only in the joint construction of container ships but also in jointly exploring future business opportunities.
As part of this delegation, around 10 ECO engineers who visited South Korea will stay for about a week to learn advanced shipbuilding techniques and attend a technology exchange workshop between the two companies to discuss detailed joint construction plans.