HD Hyundai Launches Second Landing Craft for Peruvian Navy

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), together with Peru’s state shipyard SIMA Perú, launched the second landing craft utility (LCU) of a four-ship program for the Peruvian Navy on August 18, 2026. Named BAP Chimbote, the vessel is being presented as Korea’s first successful overseas joint naval construction project.

At a Glance

HD Hyundai and SIMA Perú launched BAP Chimbote, the second landing craft utility for the Peruvian Navy.
Based on HHI’s HDL-1400 LCU design, the vessel has a full-load displacement of about 1,646 tonnes, measures 58.9 metres in length and 13.2 metres in beam, with a top speed of 10 knots.
The project is part of a four-vessel agreement signed in April 2024, worth a total of $463 million, covering a 3,400-tonne frigate, a 2,200-tonne offshore patrol vessel (OPV), and two 1,500-tonne LCUs.
HHI provides design, equipment and technical support, while construction is carried out by SIMA Perú.
All four vessels are scheduled for delivery to the Peruvian Navy by 2029.

Background

The program stems from the April 2024 agreement between HHI and SIMA Perú for the local construction of four naval vessels in Peru. It forms part of the Peruvian Navy’s broader fleet modernisation effort and is also a notable example of South Korea’s “Team Korea” export approach, under which Korean firms provide design and technology transfer while the bulk of construction takes place at the buyer’s own shipyard — a model that gives the purchasing country both local jobs and industrial capacity gains. The launch of BAP Chimbote stands out as HHI’s first concrete success with this kind of overseas co-build arrangement.

Regional Impact

Although the deal does not directly involve Turkey, it is relevant to the competitive dynamics of the Latin American naval market. South Korea’s local-construction model reflects a broader trend in which technology transfer and joint production are increasingly demanded in defence exports — an approach mirrored by many shipbuilders worldwide, including Turkish firms, in their own export strategies. Peru’s naval modernisation could become a reference point for other countries in the region pursuing similar fleet renewal programs.

FAQ

When will BAP Chimbote enter service? The vessel has been launched, but delivery and commissioning are expected to be completed within the program’s overall timeline, running through 2029.

What is the total value of the program? The four-vessel agreement is valued at approximately $463 million.