HD Hyundai and A.P. Moller – Maersk have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on vessel decarbonisation technologies and expand logistics collaboration, marking a significant step in their longstanding partnership.
The agreement was formalised at a signing ceremony held at HD Hyundai’s Global R&D Centre in Gyeonggi Province, with Executive Vice Chairman Chung Kisun and Maersk Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla in attendance, alongside senior company officials.
Under the MoU, the two firms will jointly explore a range of decarbonisation initiatives, including the trial of advanced navigation technologies such as Avikus’ HiNAS and HD Hyundai Marine Solution’s OCEANWISE system aboard a Maersk container vessel. The six-month pilot aims to assess the systems’ potential to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions through optimised routing.
The collaboration will also focus on retrofitting solutions for existing vessels, including upgrades to dual-fuel propulsion systems, enhancements to engine efficiency, and increased cargo capacity. Both parties will conduct joint research to evaluate the feasibility of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems as part of their wider push towards sustainable maritime operations.
In addition to decarbonisation, the agreement will see HD Hyundai deepen its use of Maersk’s integrated logistics offerings. This includes expanding ocean freight volumes via Maersk’s East-West network, and utilising airfreight, land transport, and warehousing infrastructure to support HD Hyundai affiliates such as HD Hyundai XiteSolution and HD Hyundai Marine Solution.
“Our collaboration with Maersk will serve as a leading example of innovation in the global logistics market by combining cutting-edge decarbonisation technologies with integrated logistics networks,” said HD Hyundai’s Chung Kisun. “We aim to rapidly advance shipbuilding technologies to help build a sustainable and efficient maritime logistics ecosystem.” Robert Maersk Uggla added, “This MoU marks an important milestone in our decades-long relationship with HD Hyundai, built on mutual trust and respect. It lays the foundation for deeper collaboration in future.”
