HANJIN HEAVY INDUSTRIES

- Opens a new chapter at Yeongdo Shipyard with its first 10,000-TEU-class container ships to be built in the 300-meter dock
- Overcomes physical dock limitations through advanced design and construction technologies, earning follow-on orders from a trusted shipowner

- A container ship of the same class built by HJSC

HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC) has signed a KRW 353.2 billion contract with a European shipowner to build two 10,100-TEU eco-friendly container ships, with options for two additional vessels. The deal marks the first time that a container ship exceeding 10,000 TEU will be constructed at HJSC’s Yeongdo Shipyard.

These new vessels reflect the latest market trends, featuring advanced hull designs and high fuel efficiency to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. To comply with International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations, the ships will be equipped with scrubber systems and optimized hull forms designed for maximum operational efficiency.

The order is particularly meaningful as it represents a milestone for the 90-year-old Yeongdo Shipyard, the company’s main shipbuilding base, where container vessels exceeding 10,000 TEU have never been built before. 

In 2004, HJSC drew global attention by pioneering an unprecedented “DAM technique,” which involved installing a temporary watertight barrier to effectively extend construction beyond the 300-meter dock length to build a 325-meter, 8,000-TEU container ship.

Through continued technological advancement, the multinational shipbuilder later succeeded in constructing and delivering a 9,000-TEU methanol-fueled container ship last year without relying on the DAM approach. 

Building on these achievements, the global shipbuilding company has now secured its first order for 10,000-TEU-class container ships from a European shipowner. Notably, the contract represents a repeat order from a client that previously placed container ship orders with the company, reflecting strong confidence in HJSC’s quality and execution capabilities.

Over the past several years, HJSC has focused on developing mid-sized eco-friendly container ships to secure stable workloads and strengthen its competitiveness in a segment where it holds particular expertise. From the 5,500-TEU vessels that marked its return to commercial shipbuilding in 2021 to the recently delivered 9,000-TEU methanol-powered container ship for HMM, all designs have been optimized for the Yeongdo dock.

CEO Yoo Sang-cheol stated, “Through continuous innovation and engineering breakthroughs, we have overcome physical limitations and are now able to build container ships exceeding 10,000 TEU at Yeongdo Shipyard.” He continued, “We will repay our client’s trust by delivering high-quality vessels on schedule and further strengthen our reputation in the mid- to large-sized eco-friendly container ship market.”