U.S. Senator McCormick Visits Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Yard, Eyes Philly Shipyard
U.S. Senator Dave McCormick, representing Pennsylvania, recently visited South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Geoje shipyard to explore warship construction technology and smart yard operations. This visit by Senator McCormick, whose district includes Hanwha Philly Shipyard, marks the end of a trend where U.S. military, government officials, and ruling party members have been inspecting South Korean shipyards for the past three months.
Senator McCormick Impressed by Hanwha Ocean Technology
During his visit on October 7, Senator McCormick toured the smart yard at the Geoje shipyard, which is equipped with advanced automation systems and warship production facilities. He also went aboard the Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate “Pyeongtaek,” currently under construction and representing the latest configuration in its class. Hanwha Ocean shared its plans to connect the Geoje shipyard with its U.S. production base and highlighted the role it will play in bilateral shipbuilding industry cooperation. Senator McCormick praised Hanwha Ocean’s technology, productivity, quality, and safety standards, expressing his expectations for the company to significantly contribute to the development of Philadelphia’s shipbuilding industry through Philly Shipyard.
U.S. Officials’ Ongoing Inspections of South Korean Shipyards
Senator McCormick’s visit is part of a series of inspections by U.S. officials at South Korean shipyards over the past three months. In August, Richard Breckenridge, Senior Advisor for Shipbuilding at the U.S. Department of the Navy, visited facilities operated by Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and SK oceanplant. In September, George LeMieux, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, inspected the Pyeongtaek construction site at the Geoje shipyard.
These visits are significant as the U.S. Navy considers South Korea’s Chungnam-class and Japan’s Mogami-class for its next-generation frigate program. The repeated inspections by U.S. government and Senate officials at the Chungnam-class construction site suggest a growing likelihood of South Korean frigate selection. While discussions on the MASGA agreement between the U.S. and South Korea are ongoing, Hanwha Ocean’s corporate-level cooperation with American partners in various shipbuilding areas is progressing rapidly.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard Expands Workforce and Production Capacity
Hanwha Philly Shipyard is ramping up its production capacity expansion efforts. With the current workforce totaling around 2,500, double the number in 2024 when Hanwha Group acquired the yard, the company is focusing on hiring and training strategies to grow its production base. Moreover, Hanwha Philly Shipyard has secured an order for a Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel (MRIV) from the U.S. Maritime Administration and has delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) to date, with the fifth vessel scheduled for delivery next year.
Senator McCormick’s close relationship with Hanwha Philly Shipyard underscores the company’s commitment to rebuilding the American shipbuilding industry. Hanwha Ocean aims to expand its production capacity in Pennsylvania to support the U.S. shipbuilding industry’s revival and foster collaboration with local American partners for mutual growth in the Korea-U.S. shipbuilding sector.
