The nation’s top three shipbuilders are to share some of their key patent technology with small and medium-sized companies, with the stated aim of achieving mutual growth for the entire industry,

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a breakfast meeting on Monday with top officials in shipbuilding to review current industry trends and seek new growth engines.

From the top player Hyundai Heavy Industries was Kim Oi-hyun, president in charge of offshore engineering and plants. Samsung Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the second- and third-biggest firms, were respectively represented by their vice presidents, Kim Cheol-nyeon and Koh Young-youl.

“The ministry will offer all the necessary support to reinforce the competitiveness of the Korean shipbuilding and offshore plant business,” said Industry Minister Yoon Sang-jick.

In May, the ministry drafted a comprehensive plan to take the nation’s already-advanced offshore plant construction industry to the next level and pledged to finish the final plan within the year.

The long-stagnant shipbuilding industry has recently shown signs of recovery but obstacles are expected, especially for small companies that have failed to overcome the market’s entry barriers, according to ministry officials.

At the meeting, the top three shipbuilders agreed to back small companies by providing them with key environment-friendly and fuel-efficient technology.

Such technology includes the natural gas fuel supply system developed by DSME or the saver pin developed by Samsung Heavy. Hyundai Heavy has developed a ballast water treatment system. The system processes water onboard the ship to avoid environmental damage.

“The trend of the world’s shipbuilding industry has shifted from quantitative to qualitative,” said a Hyundai Heavy official.

“It has become crucial for leading shipbuilders to win the initiative in the eco-friendly business sector in order to maintain their lead in the market.”

The state-run Korea Gas Corporation, too, decided to increase the proportion of domestic supplies used in liquefied natural gas carrier ships, which it is planning to order next year.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)