South Korean shipbuilding major Hanwha Ocean has signed one agreement and two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with US partners covering naval ship design, workforce development, and supply chain cooperation.
Hanwha Ocean signed a Professional Services Agreement for the design of the Global Fast Sealift (GFS) with Leidos, advancing the partnership beyond the MOU signed in April under which the two companies agreed to collaborate on next-generation naval ship design and pursue opportunities across the defense market.
Under the agreement, the two companies will begin the joint design of the GFS. They will also pursue collaborative technology development and establish a framework to ensure design quality throughout the design process. The GFS is designed to support commercial shipping during peacetime while providing rapid military sealift during wartime.
Hanwha Ocean also signed an MOU for Shipbuilding Technology Training & Development Cooperation with Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI) and Delaware County Community College (DCCC). The parties plan to help address workforce needs across the US shipbuilding industry through workforce development efforts, including instructor training programs and other efforts to cultivate highly skilled shipbuilding professionals.
The South Korean company further inked an MOU for supply chain cooperation with HPSI, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Philadelphia Growth Partnership. Through the agreement, the parties plan to work together to identify local suppliers and promote collaboration across the regional industrial ecosystem, supporting the development of a stronger US shipbuilding supply chain and the expansion of HPSI's production capabilities.
“Hanwha Ocean is fully prepared to contribute to the revitalization of the U.S. shipbuilding industry and the continued advancement of Korea’s shipbuilding sector,” said Insub Jung, President and Head of Management Support Office at Hanwha Ocean.
“Building on our local production footprint, we will expand cooperation in areas most critical to the U.S.”