HD Hyundai Samho to Supply Four Port Cranes to the Port of Tacoma

HD Hyundai announced that it signed a contract with Washington United Terminals Inc. (WUT) for the supply of four port cranes to the Port of Tacoma.

HD Hyundai Samho, HD Hyundai's shipbuilding subsidiary, is driving the South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative, known as the MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again) project, by entering the U.S. port crane market.

The contract was signed as part of a terminal modernization project to replace WUT's outdated cranes, the U.S. subsidiary of HMM, South Korea's largest shipping company, and expand the terminal's capacity to accommodate larger container ships.

Currently, WUT operates eight quay cranes at the Port of Tacoma, four of which were supplied by HD Hyundai Samho in 1999. The project involves replacing two old quay cranes with new ones and adding two new yard cranes. Through this project, both companies expect to improve the port's cargo handling capacity, expand capacity for larger vessels, and increase operational reliability.

Under the agreement, HD Hyundai Samho will carry out the entire turnkey project, including the design, manufacturing, transportation, installation, and commissioning of two quay cranes and two yard cranes, with delivery of all equipment scheduled for 2028.

"The order for port cranes for the Port of Tacoma is a significant achievement that reflects the recognition of our technological expertise and quality competitiveness, demonstrated through a wide range of national and international projects," said an HD Hyundai Samho spokesperson.

Meanwhile, in May of last year, Chung Kisun, president of HD Hyundai, met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss how to strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the United States in the shipbuilding industry. During the meeting, Chung presented HD Hyundai Samho's crane manufacturing capabilities and proposed areas for collaboration.