The NGLS is a key asset that enhances the execution capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s core strategy, ‘Distributed Maritime Operations’. It is a small-sized vessel with high mobility and target-specific operational capabilities, and is a strategic project with more than 13 ships expected to be built in the future.

Samsung Heavy Industries is expected to play a key role in the high-efficiency hull form design, which is fundamental to the vessel’s performance in this project.

SHI will leverage its hull form design technology and know-how, accumulated based on the world’s largest commercial large towing tank (400 meters long) at its Daedeok R&D Center in Daejeon. The company will be responsible for developing a hull form that perfectly meets the U.S. Navy’s requirements for high mobility, replenishment capability, and stability. It also plans to provide technical support in the future to enable the NASSCO shipyard to efficiently construct the vessels within the United States.

To fully advance its U.S. business, Samsung Heavy Industries has established a U.S. subsidiary and is preparing to jointly participate in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) bids with the U.S. shipyard Vigor. The company is expected to achieve further success in its U.S. business across various fields by utilizing its shipbuilding technology, ‘3X technology’, and more.

Choi Sung-an, Vice Chairman of Samsung Heavy Industries, had previously stated that the company will utilize the world’s first automated pipe spool technology, operational since this past March, for its U.S. business as a solution to accelerate the growth of the American shipbuilding industry. Furthermore, SHI is strengthening its technical cooperation with NASSCO through a research center jointly established with San Diego State University (SDSU) and is exploring practical cooperation measures to lay the foundation for rebuilding the U.S. shipbuilding industry in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based production automation, robotics, and eco-friendly technologies.

Moreover, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to expand its cooperation to include the establishment of a shipbuilding equipment and materials cluster in the U.S., as well as the creation of training centers for skilled shipbuilders and seafarers, by leveraging its shipbuilding technology and ‘soft competitiveness’.

An official from Samsung Heavy Industries emphasized, “We will further expand our cooperation with the NASSCO shipyard, using the NGLS project as a starting point,” adding, “Moving forward, Samsung Heavy Industries will accelerate its efforts to achieve tangible results in its U.S. business based on its advanced technological capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Samsung Heavy Industries is proceeding with its U.S. business without setbacks, as evidenced by the smooth progress in independently acquiring the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) certification.

Source: BusinessKorea