View of Hanwha Ocean Geoje Business Site. (Photo=Hanhwa Ocean)

 

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] Following President-elect Donald Trump's request for closer collaboration with the Korean shipbuilding industry, Hanwha Ocean has secured an additional contract for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of U.S. Navy vessels. Hanwha Ocean is setting a new standard in Korea's marine defense industry, establishing a key milestone in the U.S.-Korea alliance through its advanced technology and reliability.

On the 12th, Hanwha Ocean announced it had been awarded a contract for the periodic maintenance of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet replenishment oiler, the USNS Yukon. The Yukon, which entered service in March 1994, is 206 meters long, 29.6 meters wide, and displaces approximately 31,000 tons. Hanwha Ocean plans to complete repairs by April next year and return the vessel to the U.S. Navy.

This contract follows Hanwha Ocean’s initial success in August, when it became the first Korean shipyard to secure an MRO contract for the U.S. Navy’s USNS Wally Schirra. In just three months, Hanwha Ocean has won both MRO contracts issued this year by the 7th Fleet's logistics support center in Singapore, reflecting U.S. confidence in Hanwha’s technical capabilities.

Last month, Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, visited Hanwha’s Geoje shipyard, where he toured the Wally Schirra with Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan. During this visit, both sides discussed potential future collaborations for U.S. Navy vessel MRO services.

The U.S. Department of Defense is increasingly turning to South Korea’s advanced marine defense capabilities to maintain its naval power. Under the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF), the Department plans to establish logistics hubs in five Indo-Pacific countries, positioning South Korea as a key partner in defense cooperation.

 

 

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