![USNS Alan Shepard docked at Yeompo Pier for maintenance [Photo: HD Hyundai Heavy Industries]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2025/09/30/20250930090827807371.jpeg)
The U.S. Navy's Alan Shepard supply vessel/ HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun maintenance work on the U.S. Navy’s supply vessel USNS Alan Shepard, a contract that underscores the growing role of South Korean shipyards in servicing American military assets in Asia.
The 41,000-ton vessel, part of the Navy’s 7th Fleet, has arrived at Yeompo Pier near Ulsan for a scheduled overhaul, the company said Monday.
The ship, which measures 210 meters in length and 32 meters in width, will undergo safety equipment checks, tank servicing and other inspections, with work expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The deal was secured in August and is among the most recent in a series of maintenance, repair and overhaul — known as MRO — projects that HD Hyundai has taken on for the U.S. Navy. Since 2022, the company has also operated a logistics support center in the Philippines, handling similar contracts for vessels delivered there.
The shipbuilder is positioning itself more aggressively in the defense sector as it prepares for a merger with HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The consolidation would allow HD Hyundai to expand its capacity for international naval projects by combining Ulsan’s heavy industrial expertise with Mipo’s facilities and docks.
“We are committed to delivering successful MRO services to ensure the satisfaction of our client, the U.S. Navy, leveraging our advanced technology and expertise,” said Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai’s special ship division.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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