HD Hyundai has launched the Orion Jade, the first vessel completed at its newly established Subic Bay shipyard in the Philippines, marking the start of full scale operations at a facility that sits at the center of the South Korean company's regional expansion. The launch signals a broader industrial shift as Asian shipbuilders spread capacity beyond their home yards to meet demand and tap lower cost labor.
The Orion Jade is the first in a four vessel series built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines, the first ship completed at Subic since HD Hyundai took over the yard's operations. The vessel measures 250 meters in length, 42 meters in breadth, and 21 meters in depth. HHIP President Im Dae Jun called the launch a historic milestone during the ceremony this week.
The Subic yard currently employs close to 4,000 workers, according to Philippine Finance Secretary and investment czar Frederick Go, who said that figure is expected to roughly double as production ramps up. Construction of the first vessels began in September 2025 with a steel cutting ceremony attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
HD Hyundai has also partnered with the Philippines' Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to train skilled workers for the sector, aligning vocational programs with industry needs. Go framed the launch as proof that the country's push to attract strategic industrial investment is translating into new manufacturing activity and jobs.
The revival of Subic Bay matters for a shipbuilding market where South Korean and Chinese yards dominate order books and Western governments are pressing to rebuild domestic capacity. By expanding in the Philippines, HD Hyundai gains additional berth space and a lower cost base while deepening its footprint in Southeast Asia.