Hanwha Ocean has taken another significant step in strengthening strategic shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the United States by signing one Professional Services Agreement and two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with leading U.S. organizations. The agreements, announced during the opening of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center in Washington, D.C., focus on naval ship design, workforce development, and supply chain enhancement, reinforcing long-term collaboration between the two nations' maritime industries.
A key highlight of the partnership is Hanwha Ocean’s Professional Services Agreement with Leidos for the design of the Global Fast Sealift (GFS) vessel. This agreement builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies in April, under which they committed to advancing next-generation naval ship design, strengthening U.S. shipbuilding capabilities, and exploring opportunities in global defense markets. Leidos brings extensive experience through its subsidiary Gibbs & Cox, which has been responsible for designing more than 70% of the U.S. Navy’s surface combatant fleet since World War II.
Under the new agreement, Hanwha Ocean and Leidos will jointly develop the GFS vessel while collaborating on advanced technologies and establishing rigorous quality assurance processes throughout the design phase. By integrating Hanwha Ocean’s expertise in naval shipbuilding with Leidos’ engineering and ship design capabilities, the partners aim to create a dependable dual-use vessel suitable for both domestic and international markets.
The Global Fast Sealift platform is designed to perform commercial shipping operations during peacetime while providing rapid military logistics support during periods of conflict. This dual-purpose capability offers both commercial value and strategic military utility, making it an attractive solution for governments and defense organizations worldwide.
Beyond vessel development, Hanwha Ocean signed an MOU with Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI) and Delaware County Community College (DCCC) to strengthen workforce development across the U.S. shipbuilding industry. The collaboration will support instructor training, apprenticeship programs, and technical education initiatives aimed at producing highly skilled shipbuilding professionals. DCCC, a recognized public institution in Pennsylvania, already delivers technical instruction for HPSI’s U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs.
Additionally, Hanwha Ocean entered into another MOU with HPSI, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Philadelphia Growth Partnership to improve regional supply chain cooperation. The initiative will focus on identifying local suppliers, strengthening industrial partnerships, and expanding HPSI’s manufacturing capabilities, ultimately supporting the growth of a more resilient U.S. shipbuilding ecosystem.
According to Hanwha Ocean President and Head of Management Support Office Insub Jung, the company is committed to supporting the revitalization of the U.S. shipbuilding sector while further advancing Korea’s globally competitive shipbuilding industry through expanded collaboration and localized production.
Impact on Products
The agreement is expected to increase demand for shipbuilding materials, including marine-grade steel, aluminum alloys, welding consumables, protective marine coatings, engineering plastics, industrial lubricants, and specialty cables. Growing naval vessel production and expanded shipyard operations could also boost consumption of industrial gases, epoxy and polyurethane coatings, adhesives, composite materials, and corrosion-resistant chemicals. Workforce expansion and supply chain localization are likely to support sustained procurement of manufacturing inputs, benefiting suppliers serving both commercial and defense shipbuilding sectors.
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