HD Hyundai negotiates acquisition of U.S. shipyard

South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai is in advanced negotiations to acquire a shipyard in the United States. The move is part of a strategic effort to capitalize on the ‘Make American Shipbuilding Great Again’ (MASGA) initiative, which seeks to expand maritime cooperation between South Korea and the U.S.

To participate in U.S. warship construction projects, the administration has set requirements for foreign companies, including local investment, technology transfer, or securing a majority stake in a domestic shipyard. HD Hyundai has already established a U.S. subsidiary, ‘HD Hyundai USA,’ to manage local investments and acquisition preparations.

Negotiations are reportedly focused on two or three potential targets, with interest in locations such as San Diego, near the Pacific Fleet headquarters, or along the Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico. The company has also secured support from the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management to facilitate these efforts.