U.S. Senator McCormick visits Hanwha Ocean's Geoje plant... Discussing shipbuilding cooperation

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang Ha-na = U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (Republican) of Pennsylvania, where Hanwha Philly Shipyard is located, visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje business site and inspected Hanwha Ocean's technology and the status of Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation.

According to Hanwha Ocean on the 8th, Senator McCormick toured the state-of-the-art smart yard and ship construction site the day before and confirmed Hanwha Ocean's shipbuilding infrastructure and production capabilities.

Next, we boarded the 'Ulsan-class Batch-Ⅲ (Chungnam-class)' frigate 'Pyeongtaek', which is being built at the Geoje plant, and took a first-hand look at the ship's technology.

At this event, Hanwha Ocean explained its role in expanding Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation and ways to connect with Hanwha Philly Shipyard, and expressed its intention to expand cooperation for the mutual growth of the two countries' shipbuilding industries.

Senator McCormick said, "I was deeply impressed by Hanwha Ocean's high level of technology and capabilities in all aspects, including technology, productivity, quality, and safety," and added, "I expect that Hanwha Ocean will greatly contribute to the development of Philadelphia's shipbuilding industry through the Philadelphia Shipyard."

He previously visited the Hanwha Philly Shipyard with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in April of last year and emphasized the need to rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding industry, and in August of the same year, he publicly supported Hanwha Group's plan to invest $5 billion in the Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

Hanwha Ocean is leading the 'MASGA Project', a Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation project based on its local production base in the US, and is establishing itself as a key partner in rebuilding the US shipbuilding industry.

Last July, at the opening ceremony of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center, a cooperation system was established across the entire shipbuilding industry, including ship design and development, shipbuilding manpower training, and supply chain construction, with major U.S. partners such as Leidos Gibbs & Cox, a U.S. ship design company.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard is accelerating investments to expand production capacity. The current workforce size is approximately 2,500, which is more than double compared to 2024, the initial stage of acquisition.

We are also achieving concrete results, such as winning an order for a maritime missile test and instrumentation vessel (MRIV) from the U.S. Maritime Administration last July. Currently, four National Security Multipurpose Vessels (NSMVs) have been delivered, and the fifth is scheduled to be delivered next year.

Jeong In-seop, head of Hanwha Ocean's management support department (president), said, "Hanwha Ocean is working to expand its production capacity, focusing on Pennsylvania, to contribute to the reconstruction of the U.S. shipbuilding industry. We will continue to expand cooperation with local U.S. partners to lead the mutual growth of the Korean and U.S. shipbuilding industries."