HD Korea Shipbuilding Implements AI Platform to Transform Shipbuilding

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai's shipbuilding business, announced the signing of a definitive agreement with Siemens Digital Industries Software, a global engineering software company, to implement a next-generation marine platform.

This agreement represents a key step in the company's efforts to develop a future shipyard powered by artificial intelligence and drive the transformation of the shipbuilding industry.

The signing ceremony, held in Washington, D.C., was attended by executives and representatives from both companies, including Kim Hyung-kwan, President and CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, and Tony Hemmelgarn, President and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software.

"As a leader in industrial AI, automation, and digital twin software, Siemens is uniquely positioned to help transform how shipyards design, build, and maintain the next generation of vessels. This strategic collaboration goes beyond technology deployment; it's about establishing a replicable model for modern shipbuilding. By combining Siemens' digital capabilities with HD Hyundai's operational excellence, we can help shipyards improve performance, quality, and labor productivity, while strengthening the global competitiveness of the sector," said Tony Hemmelgarn, President and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software.

The next-generation marine platform focuses on integrating the entire shipbuilding process—from vessel design and production to supply chain management, quality control, and maintenance—into a single 3D model-based data environment, powered by AI and digital technologies, enabling the use of consistent information at every stage of the process.

Through the platform, shipyards will be able to transmit design changes and production status updates in real-time directly to the production floor and supply chain, allowing for informed decisions to help prevent delivery delays and quality issues.

To support this effort, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering plans to develop a virtual shipyard that replicates real operations, allowing for the simulation of production processes and equipment operation in a digital environment. Since learning and analysis capabilities are essential for creating a future physical shipyard with AI, where robots and autonomous production systems perform tasks independently, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering plans to continue enhancing the next-generation marine platform.

Ultimately, the company aims to establish an autonomous manufacturing system that digitally connects all stages of shipbuilding, from design and production to logistics, inspection, and sea trials.