US-flagged tanker being brought to life by ABS and HD Hyundai Heavy

June 11, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a classification society, is pooling resources with South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) to enrich the tanker market with a new U.S.-flagged oil and chemical tanker.

Photo Caption (L to R): Yihyo Chung, HD HHI Senior Vice President/Initial Design Office (Medium Size Ship) and Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Posidonia 2026; Courtesy of ABS — Photo Caption (L to R): Yihyo Chung, HD HHI Senior Vice President/Initial Design Office (Medium Size Ship), and Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, at Posidonia 2026; Courtesy of ABS

American Bureau of Shipping and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have signed a joint development agreement to support the development of a U.S.-flagged 50,000 DWT oil and chemical tanker.

Dongjin Lee, Executive Vice President of HD HHI, highlighted: “HD Hyundai Heavy Industries brings extensive experience and advanced technical capabilities in the design and construction of 50,000 DWT tankers.

“In anticipation of growing demand for U.S.-flagged vessels driven by U.S. shipbuilding revitalization policies, we are working in close collaboration with ABS to proactively address specific USCG technical requirements. Through this initiative, we aim to further strengthen our competitiveness in the U.S. market and deliver safe, compliant, and high-value vessel solutions for U.S.-flag operations.”

Thanks to this deal, the classification society will review the HD HHI design in accordance with ABS rules and U.S. Coast Guard requirements.

Patrick Ryan, ABS’ Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, commented: “From the first 100,000 DWT tanker to today’s most advanced tanker designs, ABS has provided owners and operators with the insight and guidance they need to achieve their goals, always with a focus on safety.

“This initiative with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries reflects our continuing commitment to supporting practical, forward-looking solutions for the next generation of U.S.-flagged vessels.”

This partnership comes shortly after ABS gave SBM Offshore the go-ahead for the Dutch player’s seawater intake riser (SWIR) technology, developed in collaboration with Shell.