Dave McCormick, a close Trump ally, visits Geoje facility

Senator inspects smart yard, warship construction capabilities

Talks held on expanding US-Korea shipbuilding cooperation via Philly Shipyard

US Sen. Dave McCormick (center) tours production facilities at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard on Wednesday alongside Jung In-seop, president of Hanwha Ocean's management support division (fourth from left), and other company officials. [Hanwha Ocean]
US Sen. Dave McCormick (center) tours production facilities at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard on Wednesday alongside Jung In-seop, president of Hanwha Ocean's management support division (fourth from left), and other company officials. [Hanwha Ocean]

Hanwha Ocean said Thursday that US Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) visited its Geoje shipyard Wednesday afternoon to review the company's technological capabilities and the state of US-Korea shipbuilding cooperation. McCormick represents Pennsylvania, the home state of Hanwha Philly Shipyard, and is widely regarded as a close ally of President Donald Trump.

During the visit, McCormick toured the company's advanced smart yard — equipped with automated machinery — and observed warship construction in progress, assessing Hanwha Ocean's shipbuilding infrastructure and production capacity. He also boarded the Pyeongtaek, a frigate of the Ulsan-class Batch III (Chungnam-class) program under construction at the Geoje facility, for a firsthand look at the company's naval vessel technology. The Pyeongtaek is the fifth ship in the Ulsan-class Batch III program and the most advanced of its class.

At the meeting, Hanwha Ocean outlined its role in expanding US-Korea shipbuilding cooperation and explained how its Geoje operations could be linked with Hanwha Philly Shipyard, expressing its commitment to the shared growth of both countries' shipbuilding industries.

"I was deeply impressed by Hanwha Ocean's high level of technology and capability across all areas — technology, productivity, quality and safety," McCormick said. "I expect Hanwha Ocean to make a significant contribution to the development of Philadelphia's shipbuilding industry through Philly Shipyard."

McCormick visited Hanwha Philly Shipyard in April last year alongside US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, where he stressed the need to rebuild America's shipbuilding industry. In August of the same year, he publicly endorsed Hanwha Group's plan to invest $5 billion in Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

Hanwha Ocean is leading the MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again) project, leveraging its US production base. At the opening of the Korea-US Shipbuilding Cooperation Center in July, the company established a broad cooperation framework with key American partners covering warship design and development, workforce training and supply chain development.

The company is also co-designing a global strategic sealift vessel with Leidos Gibbs & Cox, a US firm specializing in naval ship design. In addition, Hanwha Ocean has partnered with Hanwha Philly Shipyard and Delaware County Community College on shipbuilding workforce training, and is working with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and others to build out its supply chain.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard has roughly doubled its workforce since the acquisition to about 2,500 employees through expanded hiring and training. In July, it secured a contract from the US Maritime Administration for a missile range instrumentation vessel, and has so far delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels, with the fifth and final ship scheduled for delivery next year.

"Hanwha Ocean is working to expand production capacity centered on Pennsylvania to contribute to the rebuilding of the US shipbuilding industry," said Jung In-seop, president of Hanwha Ocean's management support division. "We will continue to broaden cooperation with local American partners and lead the shared growth of the US-Korea shipbuilding industry."


keg@heraldcorp.com