South Korea's major shipbuilders and marine industry players are descending on Athens for Posidonia 2026, the world's largest maritime trade fair, to pitch green ships and next-generation ocean technology to global shipowners and shipping companies.
South Korea's shipbuilding and marine industry is mobilizing en masse for Greece, the world's largest shipowning nation, with the dual aim of expanding order opportunities with global shipowners and showcasing its competitiveness in eco-friendly vessels and next-generation maritime technology.
HD Hyundai, HD Hyundai Heavy, HD Hyundai Samho, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Heavy Industries, HJ Shipbuilding and K Shipbuilding are among the South Korean shipbuilders participating as exhibitors at the Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition in Athens, which runs from June 1 through Friday local time.
Posidonia, held every two years, ranks alongside Germany's SMM in Hamburg and Norway's Nor-Shipping as one of the world's three premier maritime trade fairs. This year's edition is being held at the Athens Metropolitan Expo. Because the event takes place in Greece — the world's largest shipowning nation — it draws a heavy concentration of global shipowners, shipping companies, equipment suppliers and financial institutions, making it one of the industry's most important business venues.
South Korean shipbuilders plan to present their eco-friendly vessel technologies at the event, responding to growing demand driven by tightening International Maritime Organization environmental regulations and shipping companies' accelerating push toward carbon neutrality. On the sidelines, the South Korean Embassy in Greece will co-host the fifth Korea-Greece Maritime Cooperation Forum with local think tank the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research.
In addition, the Korean Register will use the event to highlight its collaborative achievements with domestic companies in eco-friendly ship technology and autonomous navigation. It plans to hold a series of approval-in-principle ceremonies and MOU signings with K Shipbuilding, Samsung Heavy Industries, Hyundai Glovis, Avikus, Daihan Shipbuilding, HD Hyundai Heavy, HD Hyundai Samho and HJ Shipbuilding.
Beyond the shipbuilders themselves, a broad range of South Korean companies and institutions in the marine equipment, power and engine sectors will also attend — including HD Hyundai Electric, LS Electric, HD Hyundai Marine Engine, HD Hyundai Marine Solution, STX Engine, KCC, the Korea Marine Equipment Association, the Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Association, the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering, and the Ulsan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries.
Nine domestic marine equipment companies will also exhibit at the Korea Pavilion, presenting eco-friendly and digital ship solutions. In total, 117 South Korean companies and institutions are participating in this year's Posidonia.
keg@heraldcorp.com
