HJ Shipbuilding CEO Says Green Technology and AI Are Key to Survival
by Lee nakyeongPosted : June 7, 2026, 18:03Updated : June 7, 2026, 18:03
Share
facebook
twitter
URL
Text size
[Editor’s Note] The world's largest maritime and shipbuilding exhibition, Posidonia 2026, has opened in Athens, Greece. This event brings together global shipowners, shipbuilders, and energy companies, focusing on the competitive landscape surrounding eco-friendly transitions, artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous navigation, and energy security. Aju Economy visited Posidonia to explore the opportunities and challenges facing K-shipbuilding amid global market changes.
Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding, engages with attendees at Posidonia 2026 in Athens on June 5. [Photo by Lee Na-kyung]
"In the future, the ability to respond to eco-friendliness, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous navigation technology will determine the survival of shipbuilders," said Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding, during an interview at Posidonia 2026 on June 5. Yoo described the event as a battlefield where shipbuilders compete fiercely for orders, stating, "While it may seem like a festival on the surface, it is actually a war for contracts among shipbuilders worldwide." He noted that his schedule was packed with meetings with shipowners, emphasizing the intense competition for securing orders as major global shipowners gather in one place. HJ Shipbuilding is participating in Posidonia for the first time in eight years. Yoo explained that there has been a recent increase in orders for eco-friendly ships, highlighting the strategic importance of the shipbuilding industry. "We decided to come here to actively secure order opportunities as global shipowners gather," he said. The key trends in shipbuilding that caught Yoo's attention are eco-friendliness and autonomous navigation. He stressed, "The direction of the shipbuilding industry is moving towards eco-friendliness, fuel savings, and autonomous navigation. If we cannot reduce shipbuilding costs and enhance operational efficiency using AI and digital technologies, it will be difficult to survive in the market." During the event, HJ Shipbuilding is actively seeking to expand collaborations to enhance its competitiveness in eco-friendly ships and digital technologies. The company signed a technical cooperation and certification agreement with Korea Register (KR) for the development of a 10,000 TEU biofuel container ship and an MOU for the supply of autonomous navigation solutions with Avikus, a subsidiary of HD Hyundai specializing in autonomous navigation. HJ Shipbuilding is particularly focused on biofuel-powered container ships this year. Yoo noted, "There is growing market interest in reducing carbon emissions by mixing fossil fuels with biofuels, and we are receiving numerous inquiries related to this. We are already in discussions with several shipowners and will comprehensively review the timing of orders to achieve favorable results based on market conditions." Yoo expressed confidence in the company's growth due to business expansion. HJ Shipbuilding's shipbuilding division recorded approximately 940 billion won in revenue and 55 billion won in operating profit last year. With a strategy focused on eco-friendly and high-value-added ships, revenue increased by 14% and operating profit rose by about 90% compared to the previous year. He stated, "This year, we expect revenue to reach around 1.44 trillion won, representing over 50% growth compared to last year, and we anticipate significant improvements in operating profit as well. We believe we can show a much better performance both numerically and operationally than last year." Yoo also expressed confidence in the U.S. maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business, which has emerged as a future growth area for the shipbuilding industry. "After returning from a business trip to the U.S. last month, we are preparing many things related to MRO," he said, adding, "We will strive to achieve meaningful results in the second half of the year." HJ Shipbuilding plans to expand its overseas sales activities, starting with Posidonia and participating in next year's Nor-Shipping, to broaden its connections with global shipowners and actively seek new order opportunities in response to the increasing demand for eco-friendly ships. Yoo concluded, "Rather than focusing solely on specific areas, we plan to actively discover business opportunities that align with the current trends in the shipbuilding industry. Even if we cannot be the first mover, we will respond to market demands for change faster than anyone else as a fast follower to secure our competitiveness." [This article was supported by the (Foundation) Sea's Gift and the (Association) Korean Maritime Journalists Association.]
