대한조선주식회사

 

[Interview]

Kim Kwangho, the Chairman of Daehanshipbuilding and Kshipbuiding “the shipbuilding industry, it is now the worst condition.”

 

 

Kim Kwangho is a Chairman who acquiring Daehanshipbuilding and STX Offshore & Shipbuilding(present Kshipbuilding) belonged to Korea Development Bank emerged as a keyman of midde-sized shipbuilding industry.

 

Two companies which having international competitiveness is regarding of getting a chance of revival because the shipbuilding market is reviving again in middle-sized tanker ship(liquid bulk carrier) market. 

 

The chairman who is start as an office worker of Doosan group, and then buy and sell for Monalisa,Ssangyong C&b,Elcanto didn’t get a good review by the shipbuilding industry.

 

However, he is performing sincerely while staying for nearly a week at JINHAE and HANAM shipyard for 15 months from 2020 summer to now since starting a takeover of STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.

 

Last month, he has been to the GREECE on business trip for Euronav located in EUROPE including meeting 16 companyies and conducted operations.

 

Interview with chosunbiz at Kshipbuilding office located Jung-gu, Seoul, he said “  I do not deny that I have acquired marginal business companies and then disposed, however, while examining for Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding it is different from orgin invest purpose.” “ It was not to get my own economic advantage what I decide to invest for Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding.

 

He made a positive prediction to shipbuilding industry in spite of reduce of new orders for ship by shipowners because of increase interest rate by FED recently.

 

This is because the oversupply problem has been resolved as the restructuring of global shipbuilders has ended since the 2008 financial crisis, and demand for new ship will continue due to global environmental regulations by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

 

He said “ 400 companies were merged into 53 in China. The supply has decreased. This is not as bad as I thought.” “I decide that it is now the worst condition, so I came into the shipbuilding industry”

 

He also watch carefully to catch a chance for Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding because major shipbuilding companies’s orders is increase but these is not manpower until 2025 in Korea. 

 

In middle-sized market, there has a chance for orders because Hyundai miposhipyard which has a good condition about refund guarantee(RG) is supposed to get full contract by 2025.

 

Hyundai samhoheavyindustry, a competitor in large sized tanker market such as Suezmax is going to focus for liquefied natural gas carrier (LNG), so Daehanshipbuilding seems to be recover own competitiveness.

 

He said that we have strength of sales and purchase of materials because of operation with Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding together.

 

He also said “ there is a liitle effect with decrease in delivery of steel for purchase the raw materials”  “ In domestic steel industry, we are equal in major shipbuilding companies relation.

 

Also, “we are preparing for system such as exchange information about ship owner information and business information with Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding sales team through establishing overseas office.

 

However, he was very cautious about combination with two companies because there are financial investors including UAMCO and SG-PE.

 

He said “it is not easy to merge with Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding” “ it is important to make strong two companies during 4~5 years in the future.”

 

He mentioned that there is a urge problem with refund guarantee(RG) when contacting new order.

 

He said” there is a refund guarantee(RG) limit while investing to Kshipbuilding and Daehanshipbuilding from the Korea Development Bank, it become full of limit because of rise of price about new order after takeover.” 

“it is totally lack of RG limit to fulfill for new orders during 2 yeras.”

 

And then “he said that it is not easy to make situation stably and retain order record when ship price is high”

 

He is planning to solve the lack of manpower about shipbuilding industry through improving actively.

 

He mentioned “Kshipbuilding returned the staff including all production worker who leaved of absence, Daehanshipbuilding conducted the increase the pay through wage negotiation last month within 2 months" “it was hard to decide because there is incomplete situation, however, I determined to do for future.”