Hanwha Ocean advances in South Korea-U.S Naval ocllaboration

March 6, 2026

U.S. Navy Commanders Visit Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard for Inspection Aiming Warship Construction and MRO

As the U.S. Trump administration disclosed specific plans for ‘MASGA,’ a Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation project, senior U.S. Navy commanders visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard to directly inspect K-maritime defense capabilities. Industry attention is focused on the possibility of expanding Korea-U.S. cooperation centered on new warship construction and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

According to Hanwha Ocean on March 3, Vice Admiral Patrick Hannifin, Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, Commander Sharif Calfee of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, and approximately 10 others visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard on Jan. 19. The delegation toured the exhibition hall, assembly plant, and special vessel quay, inspecting automated facilities and smart yard-based production systems. The U.S. Navy side reportedly focused on surface ship and submarine construction capabilities as well as MRO capacity.

Hanwha Ocean explained its strategy to gradually expand its business scope from logistics support ship MRO to combat ship MRO, and further to new warship construction. A Hanwha Ocean official said, “We emphasized our willingness to deepen cooperation by highlighting our fast delivery capabilities and proven design and construction solutions.”

Hanwha Ocean has accumulated warship technology competitiveness even before MASGA discussions began. The company has secured achievements including the Norwegian Navy logistics support ship, the British Navy’s first overseas-ordered warship, and Korea’s first overseas submarine export. The diesel submarine ‘Jangbogo-III Batch-II’ model is cited as a candidate for Canada’s submarine program (CPSP).

Domestically, Hanwha Ocean is the only company to have built all KDX-I, II, and III destroyers, having constructed more than 40 surface ships. The company is currently handling construction of the Ulsan-class Batch-III ships No. 5 and 6 and Batch-IV ships No. 1 and 2, with plans to continue its competitiveness through the Korean-type Next Generation Destroyer (KDDX) and next-generation strategic surface ship projects.

Investment to strengthen production capacity is also expanding. Hanwha Ocean plans to construct indoor installation facilities, expand slipways, and secure additional quays by 2030 to increase surface ship production capacity. The Special Vessel Plant No. 4, completed in October last year, applied an AI-based facility and energy management platform to increase production efficiency.

A Hanwha Ocean official stated, “We will strengthen competitiveness by applying security-enhanced smart shipyard technology to the special vessel sector,” adding, “We will expand our position in the global maritime defense market by combining cutting-edge technology with the expertise accumulated across all areas of submarines and surface ships.”

Source: BusinessKorea