New partnership targets submarine MRO development for Canada’s submarine project

April 9, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Hanwha Ocean and PCL Construction have signed a Teaming Agreement to further advance collaboration on submarine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) infrastructure as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year by the two companies, and reflects a shared interest in developing a more structured and integrated approach to collaboration in Canada.

At the centre of the partnership is the opportunity to support the development of submarine MRO infrastructure on both coasts, including facilities in Esquimalt, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Such infrastructure is widely seen as a key component in enabling Canada to sustain and operate its submarine fleet over the long term.

PCL will bring extensive experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects across the country, including for the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. The company’s involvement highlights the role of the Canadian industry in any future infrastructure development related to CPSP.

On the other hand, Hanwha will contribute experience in submarine design, construction, and sustainment, based on decades of involvement in naval programs. The firm’s background in integrating complex systems and supporting lifecycle operations provides a foundation for potential collaboration in submarine infrastructure.

“In partnership with PCL Construction, Hanwha is committed to building the critical infrastructure at the core of Canada’s sovereign submarine ISS capability. By combining Hanwha’s real-world submarine ISS facility operations and know-how with PCL’s world-class construction expertise, we will deliver a lasting, Canada-led foundation built to sustain sovereign submarine operations for generations to come,” VAdm (Ret.) Steve Jeong, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Naval Ship International Business, Hanwha Ocean, said.

“PCL Construction is proud to expand our relationship with Hanwha Ocean as we collaborate on the planning and construction of infrastructure supporting the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. We bring extensive experience partnering with the Government of Canada, the Department of National Defence, and the Canadian Armed Forces on projects across the country. We believe PCL’s expertise and collaborative approach will be a strong asset to the Hanwha Ocean team in delivering this critical national initiative,” Mike Wieninger, Chief Operating Officer, Canadian Operations, PCL Construction, commented.

The two companies are aligning their capabilities across design, engineering, construction, and supply chain coordination to support Canada’s evolving submarine infrastructure requirements.

Recently, Hanwha Ocean completed a 16-month MRO program on the Republic of Korea Navy’s KSS-II (Type 214) submarine Yu Gwan-sun.