Samsung Heavy Industries announced on Aug. 26 that it signed a strategic partnership agreement with Vigor Marine Group of the United States on Aug. 25  in Washington, D.C., USA, regarding maintenance, repair, and overhaul of U.S. Navy support vessels.

The memorandum of understanding  signing ceremony was attended by government and corporate officials, including Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik, Samsung Heavy Industries CEO Choi Sung-an, and Vigor Marine Group CEO Francesco Valente.

Vigor Marine Group is a shipyard specializing in the maintenance, modernization, and MRO of U.S. naval vessels and special mission ships. It operates Navy-certified docks, processing plants, and repair service businesses in four states: Oregon, Washington, California, and Virginia.

Through this MOU, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to actively participate in MRO projects for the U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command, based on its advanced technology in shipbuilding and offshore fields, operational know-how, and optimized facilities. Additionally, building on the success of the MRO business cooperation, the company aims to expand the scope of collaboration to commercial and special-purpose vessels in the future, and actively pursue joint construction with U.S. partner shipyards. A Samsung Heavy Industries official stated, “We will strive to contribute to the rebuilding of the U.S. shipbuilding industry with Samsung Heavy Industries’ technology,” adding, “We are actively considering securing additional cooperative partner shipyards.”

CEO Choi emphasized, “We are very pleased to collaborate with Vigor Marine Group, a leading MRO shipyard in the United States,” and added, “We plan to provide world-class MRO services and do our best to lay the groundwork for building commercial vessels and support ships in the United States based on this achievement.”

CEO Valente added, “Through this partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries, we will expand our MRO business capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region and explore opportunities to build commercial vessels in the United States,” emphasizing, “We will contribute to strengthening U.S. naval power with the highest level of quality.”

Samsung Heavy Industries plans to expand cooperation not only in joint construction with U.S. shipyards but also in areas such as creating shipbuilding equipment clusters and training centers for skilled shipbuilding workers and sailors in the United States, actively utilizing its soft competitiveness, including its own experience and know-how. A Samsung Heavy Industries official said, “We also plan to continuously expand joint construction projects with overseas shipyards in Southeast Asia and other regions besides the United States.”

Source:Business Korea