Hanwha Ocean unites with Polish shipbuilding duo to work on Orka submarine project

May 29, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

South Korean shipbuilding heavyweight Hanwha Ocean has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Polish shipyards PGZ Stocznia Wojenna (PGZ SW) and Nauta Shipyard to strengthen cooperation in naval shipbuilding and maintenance.

As disclosed, the signing ceremony took place at the MADEX 2025 International Maritime Defense Exhibition in Busan.

This MOU is the outcome of ongoing discussions and site visits, including a recent tour of Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje facility by the Polish partners, showcasing the company’s advanced production capabilities. The strategic collaboration aims to support Hanwha Ocean’s bid for the Polish Navy’s ORKA submarine project and further efforts to localize production.

PGZ SW, a shipyard under the Polish state-owned defense group PGZ, and Nauta Shipyard have agreed to jointly explore strategic cooperation opportunities to support Hanwha Ocean and the Orca project as well as the modernization of the country’s naval ship industry and overseas exports.

Hanwha Ocean and its Polish partners plan to collaborate on a wide range of initiatives, including joint ship development, construction, maintenance, technology transfer, and exports. This cooperation is expected to not only improve the competitiveness of the ORKA submarine bid but also contribute to Poland’s broader naval modernization goals.

With PGZ SW, they have agreed to explore cooperation in the joint development and overseas export of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), surface ships, support ships, unmanned surface and underwater systems, and submarines optimized for overseas markets.

“Our cooperation with a major Polish company goes beyond a simple technological alliance and will serve as a bridge for shipbuilding industry cooperation between Korea and Poland,” Hanwha Ocean’s Special Vessel Division President Eo Seong-cheol emphasized.

“We will go beyond winning the Orca submarine project and create a new cooperation model in the global defense market.”