Hanwha Ocean is solidifying its position as a leader in promoting joint growth in the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding industry by establishing collaborative relationships with key partners in the United States, encompassing vessel design and development, workforce training, and supply chain development.
On July 23, during the opening ceremony of the 'Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center' in Washington, D.C., Hanwha Ocean announced the signing of contracts for the design and development of a Global Fast Sealift vessel, along with two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) aimed at workforce training and supply chain development in the shipbuilding sector.
Hanwha Ocean has entered into a 'professional services contract' with Leidos Gibbs & Cox, a renowned name in vessel design, for the joint design of the Global Fast Sealift. This agreement marks a significant step forward from the MOU signed in April, which focused on enhancing naval shipbuilding capabilities for the U.S. and allied nations.
Through this contract, the two companies will commence joint design efforts for the Global Fast Sealift, promoting collaborative technology development and establishing a cooperative framework to ensure design quality. This partnership aims to combine Hanwha Ocean's shipbuilding capabilities with the design and engineering expertise of Leidos Gibbs & Cox, which has designed over 70% of U.S. Navy surface vessels since World War II, to present a reliable and validated platform to the U.S. and global markets.
Additionally, Hanwha Ocean signed an MOU with Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard and Delaware County Community College to collaborate on shipbuilding technology education and development. This initiative aims to respond to the demand for skilled labor in the U.S. shipbuilding industry by developing instructor training programs.
Delaware County Community College, located in eastern Pennsylvania, is a two-year institution that provides workforce training and technical education programs to the local community. It participates as a technical training institution linked to the apprenticeship program operated by Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard, offering job-related theoretical education to apprentices.
Furthermore, Hanwha Ocean has signed an MOU with Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard, the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Philadelphia Growth Partnership to enhance supply chain cooperation in the shipbuilding industry. This collaboration aims to identify local shipbuilding supply chains and build a regional shipbuilding ecosystem, seeking to strengthen the supply chain in the U.S. and expand the production capacity of Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard.
Jung In-seop, head of Hanwha Ocean's management support division, stated, "Hanwha Ocean is fully prepared to contribute to the revitalization of the U.S. shipbuilding industry and the advancement of the Korean shipbuilding sector. We will expand collaboration in areas where the U.S. has the greatest need, becoming a key driver of the MASGA project."
MASGA is a Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative inspired by former President Donald Trump's 'MAGA' slogan, representing a $150 billion project for the revitalization and investment in the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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