Korean Shipbuilders Expand US Partnerships With 15 New Shipbuilding Projects
Our take
The recent announcement of fifteen new shipbuilding projects between Korean shipbuilders – Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai, and SHI – and US partners, formalized through the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center, represents a significant development with far-reaching implications for both maritime industries and, critically, for ocean monitoring and understanding. This collaboration isn't merely about expanding production capacity; it signifies a strategic realignment driven by geopolitical considerations and a burgeoning need for advanced maritime capabilities. The increased shipbuilding activity will undoubtedly impact global supply chains and competition within the maritime sector, but the potential for integration with advanced oceanographic technologies warrants focused attention. Understanding the complexities of marine fisheries, aquaculture, and living marine resources is essential in this context, as highlighted in The future of our oceans: negotiating marine fisheries, aquaculture, and living resources with unbiased science. The capacity to build and deploy the vessels required for effective monitoring and research is a crucial, and often overlooked, element in ensuring sustainable ocean practices.
The scale of this partnership – fifteen projects – underscores the depth of commitment from both nations. While the immediate focus appears to be on naval vessels, the technological advancements stemming from these projects are likely to have ripple effects across various maritime sectors. Consider the demands for improved underwater acoustic technologies, critical for both naval operations and fundamental oceanographic research. The ongoing work on mid-frequency acoustic transmission and communication in the Arctic, detailed in Mid-frequency acoustic transmission and communication in the Arctic: the Nansen Basin under-ice experiments, exemplifies the sophisticated sensor systems and data acquisition capabilities required for comprehensive ocean monitoring. The integration of these technologies into newly constructed vessels, whether for military or civilian applications, will significantly enhance our ability to collect and analyze ocean data in real-time. This enhanced data flow is vital for creating a more robust and integrated data ecosystem, a cornerstone of World Data Ocean’s mission.
It's also important to consider the impact on climate resilience efforts. The ability to accurately assess and predict ocean conditions – including temperature anomalies, salinity changes, and acidification – is paramount for protecting vulnerable ecosystems. The limitations of existing degree heating week models, as explored in The thermal gap constraint: why satellite degree heating weeks fail where reefs need them most, highlight the need for more localized and high-resolution data. New vessels equipped with advanced sensors and data processing capabilities can contribute significantly to filling these gaps, providing policymakers and researchers with the empirical evidence needed to implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. The investment in shipbuilding, therefore, can be framed as an investment in ocean intelligence and global climate resilience.
Looking ahead, the key question is the degree to which these new shipbuilding capabilities will be directed towards non-military applications, specifically those supporting oceanographic research and environmental monitoring. While naval construction is undoubtedly a primary driver, the potential for technology transfer and the development of dual-use platforms – vessels capable of performing both military and scientific tasks – is substantial. A calibrated approach, prioritizing the integration of advanced sensor technologies and data sharing protocols, will be crucial to maximizing the benefits of this partnership for global ocean stewardship. The long-term success of this collaboration hinges not solely on the volume of vessels produced, but on the quality of the data they generate and the actionable intelligence derived from that data.
South Korea’s three largest shipbuilders have unveiled 15 projects in the United States covering ship design, shipyard modernisation, automation, workforce training and supply chain development.
Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai and Samsung Heavy Industries announced the projects during the opening of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center in Washington, D.C.
The initiatives involve commercial and naval shipbuilding, digital shipyards, production technologies and worker training.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the success of the partnership would be measured by one outcome, the number of ships built in the United States.
Among the three companies, Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai have the most advanced plans for building ships in the United States.
Hanwha Ocean plans to use Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. to build commercial ships as well as auxiliary naval vessels and naval ship modules. The company is also taking part as a subcontractor in the conceptual design of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation logistics support ship.
HD Hyundai is working with U.S.-based Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) to build container ships and is cooperating with Huntington Ingalls, the country’s largest defence shipbuilder, on next-generation logistics support ships. The company is also continuing its search for a U.S. shipyard.
Samsung Heavy Industries, which does not own a U.S. shipyard, is focusing on automation, digital production systems and specialised ship designs while expanding its business through partnerships.
Hanwha Ocean signs naval ship design and workforce agreements
Hanwha Ocean signed a Professional Services Agreement with Leidos to begin the joint design of the Global Fast Sealift (GFS), moving ahead with a partnership announced in April.
Leidos’ subsidiary Gibbs & Cox, which has designed more than 70% of U.S. Navy surface combatants since World War II, will work with Hanwha Ocean on the ship’s design, technology development and design quality management.
The Global Fast Sealift is designed to operate as a commercial cargo ship during peacetime and rapidly transport troops and military equipment during wartime.
Hanwha Ocean also signed a memorandum of understanding with Hanwha Philly Shipyard and Delaware County Community College (DCCC) to support workforce development through instructor training and other programs aimed at producing skilled shipbuilding workers.
DCCC already provides technical education for Hanwha Philly Shipyard’s four U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs.
In another agreement, Hanwha Ocean, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Philadelphia Growth Partnership agreed to identify local suppliers and strengthen the regional shipbuilding supply chain to support future production.
HD Hyundai focuses on digital shipyards
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering will assess facilities and production processes at Fraser Industries, a Great Lakes shipbuilder and repair company, before recommending automation and modernization measures.
The company is also working with Siemens to develop a digital shipyard model that combines design, production, procurement and quality-control data on a single three-dimensional platform.
The system allows shipyards to test production processes virtually before construction begins, helping reduce delays and rework.
HD Hyundai plans to commercialise the digital shipyard model for use in the United States and other markets.
HD Hyundai Samho will also supply four advanced port cranes to the operator of the Port of Tacoma.
An HD Hyundai official said the company is continuing to look for a local shipyard so it can eventually build ships directly in the United States.
Samsung Heavy Industries targets future U.S. shipyards
Samsung Heavy Industries is focusing on automation and production technologies for new U.S. shipyards rather than setting up its own construction base.
Its technologies are expected to be used at Port Alpha, a next-generation shipyard being developed by autonomous vessel company Saronic Technologies in Brownsville, Texas, with an investment of more than $3 billion.
The companies will also jointly research autonomous navigation and artificial intelligence technologies while developing robot-based production systems.
In commercial shipping, Samsung Heavy Industries and Conrad Shipyard are jointly developing a 12,000-cubic-metre LNG bunkering vessel. Samsung is providing the design and LNG technology, while Conrad Shipyard will build the vessel.
The vessel has received basic design approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), completing design verification for future U.S. orders.
Samsung Heavy Industries will also establish a training centre with Vigor Marine Group for welding and painting workers using virtual reality and augmented reality technology.
Industry officials said the Korea-U.S. “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” (MASGA) initiative is now moving from cooperation announcements to implementation, although many projects are still at the memorandum of understanding or joint development stage.
They said the next phase will depend on U.S. government support, including stable shipbuilding orders, investment incentives and faster permitting.
The SHIPS for America Act, which includes financial and tax support for commercial ship orders and streamlined permitting, remains pending in the U.S. Congress.
Reference: Hanwha Ocean
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