US Senator Dave McCormick Visits Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard
US Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican senator, made a significant visit to Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard on October 7, 2026. This visit aimed to assess the shipyard’s shipbuilding infrastructure and production capabilities, as reported by Hanwha Ocean on October 8.
Reviewing Shipbuilding Capabilities
During his visit, McCormick had the opportunity to board the Pyeongtaek, an Ulsan-class Batch-III frigate currently under construction at the shipyard. This vessel, the fifth in the Ulsan-class Batch-III program, represents the latest addition to its class. Hanwha Ocean showcased its naval shipbuilding capabilities to McCormick, emphasizing the company’s role in expanding South Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation and collaborating with Hanwha Philly Shipyard.
Hanwha Philly Shipyard Expansion
Hanwha Philly Shipyard, established after Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems acquired Philly Shipyard from Aker ASA in 2024, specializes in building various types of vessels, including commercial, government special-purpose, specialized for the maritime industry, and military vessels. Notably, the shipyard has delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) and secured an order for Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIVs) from the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) in July.
Since the acquisition, Hanwha Philly Shipyard has been actively expanding its hiring and workforce training initiatives. Currently, the shipyard employs around 2,500 workers, a significant increase from the workforce size at the time of acquisition.
Support for US Shipbuilding Industry
McCormick, representing Pennsylvania, where Hanwha Philly Shipyard is located, has been a vocal advocate for revitalizing the US shipbuilding industry. His previous visits to the shipyard, including one with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in April last year, underscored the importance of rebuilding the industry. Additionally, in August of the same year, McCormick publicly endorsed Hanwha Group’s plan to invest $5 billion in Hanwha Philly Shipyard, demonstrating his commitment to fostering growth and innovation in the sector.
Overall, Senator Dave McCormick’s visit to Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard highlighted the ongoing developments and collaborations within the shipbuilding industry, showcasing the importance of partnerships and investments in advancing maritime capabilities and infrastructure.
