HD Hyundai announced  that 13 high-ranking officials from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, including Rear Admiral Thomas Anderson and Rear Admiral William Greene, visited the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, to discuss cooperation plans in the fields of future ships, eco-friendly vessels, and digital vessels.

The visit aimed to explore potential collaborations in advanced ship technologies. HD Hyundai showcased its capabilities in developing AI-based ship solutions and hybrid electric propulsion vessels, and proposed Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) strategies for overseas ships. Rear Admiral Anderson, the Program Executive Officer for Ships, and Rear Admiral Greene, the Commander of the Regional Maintenance Center and the overall head of Surface Ship Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul, were among the visiting officials.

On the same day, senior U.S. Navy officials also visited Hanwha Ocean’s R&D campus in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. Hanwha Ocean stated that they exchanged opinions on mutual cooperation with the heads of the Navy ship programs. The U.S. Navy observed facilities such as the eco-friendly fuel land test facility, shared pool, towing tank, and model production room. According to Hanwha Ocean, the eco-friendly fuel land test facility can test technologies related to commercial-grade fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, new concept batteries, shaft generators, and ammonia propulsion.

Additionally, the U.S. Navy showed interest in the lithium-ion energy storage system (ESS) for submarines developed by Hanwha Aerospace. When a submarine is equipped with both the ESS and a hydrogen fuel cell-based air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, it can operate underwater for up to three weeks.

The U.S.-South Korea military alliance, dating back to the Korean War, underscores the significance of such visits. The U.S. Navy’s role in global maritime security and the strategic importance of advanced ship technologies highlight the importance of these discussions. HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean are major players in the global shipbuilding industry, and their collaboration with the U.S. Navy could lead to significant advancements in naval engineering.

Source: Business Korea