WASHINGTON, D.C. — Major South Korean defense and commercial shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has forged comprehensive strategic partnerships with prominent U.S. entities. The agreement encompasses joint naval vessel design and engineering, skilled workforce development, and the establishment of a robust local shipbuilding supply chain across North America.
The announcement was made on July 23 during the official opening ceremony of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center in Washington, D.C. High-ranking officials—including South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Hanwha Ocean Management Support Office President Jung In-sub, and Leidos Gibbs & Cox Vice President Mike Rickels—attended the landmark event.
As part of these strategic efforts, Hanwha Ocean signed a Professional Services Agreement with premier U.S. naval architecture firm Leidos Gibbs & Cox to jointly design a next-generation Global Fast Sealift (GFS) vessel. Gibbs & Cox, a subsidiary of Leidos, boasts an unmatched pedigree, having designed over 70 percent of the U.S. Navy’s surface combat ships built since World War II. The GFS is envisioned as a versatile, dual-use platform that functions for commercial logistics during peacetime and rapidly converts for high-speed military sea transport during strategic contingencies. Under the contract, both firms will combine Hanwha Ocean's advanced shipbuilding efficiency with Gibbs & Cox’s engineering capabilities, conducting joint R&D and applying strict quality control systems.
To directly address the labor shortages facing the American maritime sector, Hanwha Ocean also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI) and Delaware County Community College (DCCC). The tri-party collaboration will focus on developing technical instruction and train-the-trainer programs to cultivate highly skilled local shipyard mechanics and technicians.
Furthermore, Hanwha Ocean expanded its regional footprint by signing a supply chain development MOU alongside Hanwha Philly Shipyard, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Philadelphia Growth Partnership. This alliance aims to uncover local component suppliers and foster an integrated regional manufacturing ecosystem, directly bolstering HPSI’s long-term production capacity.
These initiatives serve as a core component of the broader bilateral effort known as the "MASGA" (Make America Shipbuilding Great Again) initiative. Supported by South Korea's committed $150 billion investment pipeline into the U.S. maritime defense and commercial manufacturing sectors, the new center in Washington will oversee joint technology exchanges, shipyard modernization, and digital twin manufacturing projects.
"By leveraging our established domestic production base, Hanwha Ocean is expanding cooperation in the precise areas where the United States requires the most support," said Jung In-sub, President of Hanwha Ocean. "We are fully prepared to serve as the core driving engine for the MASGA project while advancing the joint naval power of both nations."
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