HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Domestic Production of Eco-Friendly 'Offshore Wind Support Vessel'

*This content was translated by AI.

HD Hyundai is launching domestic production of eco-friendly offshore wind support vessels (SOVs).

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the intermediate holding company for HD Hyundai's shipbuilding division, recently signed a "Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation for Joint Development of Korean-Type Offshore Wind Support Vessels" with Malcom, a specialist in marine engineering and offshore consulting.

An SOV refers to a vessel that supports maintenance and repair operations for offshore wind turbines. It provides living quarters and workspaces to allow workers to stay at sea for extended periods and serves as a maintenance hub within offshore wind farms.

As offshore wind farms expand into waters farther from the coast, the importance of SOVs is growing. When power plants are located in open seas, travel times increase and access is restricted during adverse weather, making it more efficient for workers to remain at sea and perform maintenance and repair operations.

The expansion of the global offshore wind market is also expected to drive increased demand for SOVs. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), cumulative global offshore wind capacity is projected to grow from 83.2 GW at the end of 2024 to 441 GW by 2034.

Under this agreement, both companies will proceed with joint development of a Korean-type eco-friendly SOV optimized for the operating environment of domestic offshore wind farms and will also aim to obtain Basic Approval (AiP) from Korean Register (KR).

An HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official, speaking to this newspaper by phone, stated, "Eco-friendly SOVs are key infrastructure for the stable operation of the offshore wind market."

An official from the offshore wind industry, speaking to this newspaper by phone, explained, "As of 2025, the global offshore wind market is estimated to be worth approximately 65 trillion to 74 trillion won, with cumulative installed capacity exceeding 83 GW. However, South Korea currently remains in the early stages, with only about 0.35 GW (cumulative approximately 260 MW) of commercial operation records. There is strong demand for offshore wind support vessels not only globally but also domestically."

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*This content was translated by AI.