Senator Dave McCormick visited the Hanwha Ocean site in Geoje on October 7 to assess the status of shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and the United States. McCormick is a representative from Pennsylvania, where the Hanwha Ocean shipyard is located.
Visit to Facilities and New Ship
According to Hanwha Ocean, during this visit, McCormick toured the automated facilities and the warship construction area at the Geoje site, and then boarded the Pyeongtaek, the fifth Ulsan-class Batch III ship currently under construction in Geoje. The Pyeongtaek, as the newest ship of this class, is currently in the construction phase.
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Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Program
Hanwha Ocean has introduced a shipbuilding cooperation program between Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. and the Geoje site. The company aims to expand the framework of cooperation in the areas of design and construction of warships, workforce development in shipbuilding, and supply chain construction. Senator McCormick emphasized in this session that "I was greatly impressed by the high level of capabilities in all aspects, including technology, productivity, quality, and safety," adding, "Hanwha Ocean will play a significant role in the development of the shipbuilding industry in Philadelphia through the Philadelphia shipyard."
Given these developments, it seems that Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation will expand in the coming years, especially considering the growing military and commercial needs. This cooperation could serve as a successful model for economic and military relations between the two countries and contribute to enhancing production and innovation capacities in the shipbuilding industry.
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