Secretary John C. Phelan visits Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard on April 30th to review naval shipbuilding capabilities
Secretary John C. Phelan: “The relationship between the U.S. Navy and the Republic of Korea’s maritime industrial base goes far beyond ship maintenance; it is a cornerstone of our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthens the overall bond between our nations”.
Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim: “Hanwha Ocean is leading Korea-U.S. cooperation in the naval defense sector”
John C. Phelan, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard on April 30th. During the visit, he met with Dong Kwan Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, to discuss avenues for greater cooperation between South Korea and the United States in naval shipbuilding.
Accompanied by Vice Chairman Kim, Secretary John C. Phelan toured major facilities at the shipyard, including USNS Yukon, a replenishment oiler of the U.S. 7th Fleet currently undergoing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) by Hanwha Ocean. They also visited the submarine construction zone and the commercial shipbuilding area.
Secretary John C. Phelan inspected USNS Yukon closely, reviewing Hanwha Ocean’s MRO capabilities firsthand. The vessel, for which Hanwha Ocean was awarded the MRO contract in November last year, is scheduled to complete repairs and return to service next month.
Following the site visit, Secretary John C. Phelan remarked, “The relationship between the U.S. Navy and the Republic of Korea’s maritime industrial base goes far beyond ship maintenance; it is a cornerstone of our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthens the overall bond between our nations”.
Washington is seeking to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity and strengthen its naval forces, increasingly looking to allied shipbuilders as partners.
During the meeting, Vice Chairman Kim underscored Hanwha Ocean’s growing role, highlighting that the company not only became the first Korean shipbuilder to acquire a U.S. shipyard, but also successfully delivered its first U.S. Navy MRO project. “Hanwha Ocean is now leading ROK-U.S. cooperation in the naval defense sector,” he said.
Vice Chairman Kim added that Hanwha Ocean has established a construction system capable of responding rapidly to the strategic needs of the U.S. Navy under any circumstances. With multiple shipbuilding sites secured across the United States, the company aims to maximize synergies and strengthen its presence in the North American market. He emphasized that Hanwha Ocean seeks to be “the most trusted partner” for U.S. naval programs.
Hanwha Ocean’s track record with the U.S. Navy began in August 2024, when it became the first Korean shipbuilder to win an MRO contract for USNS Wally Schirra. Following a successful overhaul, the vessel was redelivered in March this year. During the maintenance process, Hanwha Ocean identified additional work requirements and secured a supplementary contract, reinforcing its reputation for technical reliability and problem-solving.
In December 2024, Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems jointly acquired the Hanwha Philly Shipyard, a shipyard located in Philadelphia, marking the first entry by a Korean company into the U.S. shipbuilding industry. The acquisition is expected to provide Hanwha with a new growth engine in the U.S. defense sector, while strengthening its position in the global naval market.
Hanwha is also expanding its international shipbuilding footprint through a direct investment in Austal, an Australian shipbuilder with facilities in Mobile, Alabama, and San Diego, California. Hanwha has acquired a 9.9% stake and is pursuing an additional 10% investment, aiming to raise its total shareholding to 19.9%.
For Editorial Inquiries Contact:
Editor Kym Bergmann at kym.bergmann@venturamedia.net
For Advertising Inquiries Contact:
Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at simon.hadfield@venturamedia.net
