Hanwha Ocean is seeking new growth opportunities in the United States. Its collaboration with the U.S. Navy, which began with maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), is increasingly likely to expand from support vessel design to combat ship construction. Recently, the U.S. government has begun to directly assess Hanwha Ocean's destroyer design and construction capabilities.
On July 15, President Donald Trump mentioned the potential for collaboration with foreign shipbuilders, including those from South Korea, during the Defense and Innovation Summit held at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. He also opened the door to the possibility of purchasing some ships built outside the U.S.
The U.S. Navy's actions are becoming more concrete. According to the naval news outlet Naval News, the U.S. Department of Defense and Navy have sent requests for information (RFIs) to Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to assess their destroyer design and construction capabilities and production scale. Hanwha Ocean has also responded to a separate RFI related to medium-sized replenishment ships. While this is not yet at the order stage, it marks the beginning of a detailed examination of the participation of Korean shipbuilders in combat ship projects.
Hanwha Ocean entered the U.S. Navy market through ship maintenance. After signing a maintenance support agreement (MSRA) in 2024, it has been awarded a series of MRO contracts for support vessels, gradually expanding the scope of its collaboration.
This year, Hanwha has broadened its focus to include ship design. Hanwha Defense USA and the Hanwha Philippine Shipyard are participating in the next-generation logistics support ship (NGLS) project led by U.S. ship design firm Bard Marine, handling market research, conceptual design, and design improvements. Although this is not a construction contract, the role has expanded from maintenance to the design phase.
Hanwha is also strengthening its local production base. The company plans to invest $5 billion (approximately 7.4 trillion won) in the Philippine shipyard acquired in 2024. The goal is to add two docks and three berths and to introduce automation and smart shipyard technologies, increasing annual production capacity from fewer than two vessels to a maximum of 20. In the long term, it is also pursuing plans to build warships locally.
This strategy aligns with the U.S. shipbuilding revitalization policy. Locally, delays in warship construction due to a shortage of shipyards and skilled labor have made expanding production capacity an urgent issue. In this context, utilizing the technology and production capabilities of allied countries like South Korea is being discussed.
Actual work is also increasing. At the summit, a $1.5 billion (approximately 2.2 trillion won) order for Hanwha vessels related to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) was announced. While this does not involve U.S. Navy combat ships, Hanwha's local shipbuilding business in the U.S. is transitioning from large-scale investments to actual orders.
However, challenges remain before moving to the construction of U.S. Navy combat ships. Current U.S. law imposes restrictions on building warships at foreign shipyards. Even if the Philippine shipyard is utilized, expanding facilities and securing skilled labor will be necessary for constructing large vessels. The possibility of using shipyards from allied countries like South Korea is also being discussed, making future regulatory changes a key factor.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.