SEOUL, South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) said Wednesday it has signed a 640.6 billion-won ($462.3 million) contract to build four warships for the Peruvian Navy jointly with a local shipyard. Peru's state-owned shipbuilder SIMA Peru S.A. inked the deal with HHI in a ceremony in Lima on Tuesday (local time), which was attended by Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and other senior officials. It marks the largest naval ship order placed by a Latin American country with a Korean shipbuilder. Under the contract, the HD Hyundai affiliate will build one 3,400-ton frigate, one 2,200-ton offshore patrol vessel and two 1,400-ton amphibious warfare ships at SIMA's shipyard by 2029. In this partnership, HHI will be responsible for the design, supply of parts and provision of technological support, while SIMA will build the vessels. As part of the deal, the Korean shipbuilder has been designated as a strategic partner of the Peruvian government and navy for the next 15 years. It will also po sition HHI as a preferred bidder for additional contracts, including the construction of five frigates, three offshore patrol vessels and two amphibious warfare ships, the company said. Source: Yonhap News Agency