Founded as Osaka Iron Works in 1881. Opened new yards in Innoshima in 1911 and Kanagawa in 1943. Also acquired a yard in Mukaushima and renamed Hitachi Zosen Corp. in 1943. Acquired Maizuru Heavy Industries in 1971 and opened a yard in Nagasu in 1973. Merged with NKK Corporation in 2002 to form Universal Shipbuillding Corp. In 2013 merged with IHI Marine United, formed by Ishikawajima-Harima HI and Sumitomo Heavy Industries, to form Japan Marine United Corp.