U.S. Senator Tours 'Smart Yard,' Reviews South Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje Shipyard

Senator McCormick tours naval vessel construction site

"Discusses cooperation with Hanwha Philly Shipyard"

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard to review the progress of South Korea-U.S. cooperation in the shipbuilding industry.

Hanwha Ocean said on Oct. 8 that Senator McCormick visited its Geoje shipyard on Oct. 7 and toured a smart yard equipped with automated machinery and a naval vessel construction site. The shipyard is operated by Hanwha Ocean, whose president and CEO is Kim Hee-cheol.

McCormick also boarded the Pyeongtaek, an Ulsan-class Batch-III (Chungnam-class) frigate under construction at the Geoje shipyard, to learn about the vessel's construction process and the company's technological capabilities. The Pyeongtaek is the fifth vessel in the Ulsan-class Batch-III program.

Hanwha Ocean explained its role in expanding South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation and outlined plans to coordinate with Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (center) poses for a commemorative photo during a visit to Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard on the 7th.

"I was deeply impressed by Hanwha Ocean's high level of technology and capabilities in every area, including technology, productivity, quality, and safety," McCormick said. "I expect Hanwha Ocean to make a significant contribution to the development of Philadelphia's shipbuilding industry."

McCormick is a U.S. senator representing Pennsylvania, where Hanwha Philly Shipyard is located. He visited the shipyard in April 2025 and stressed the need to rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding industry. In August 2025, he voiced support for Hanwha Group's investment plan for Hanwha Philly Shipyard.

Hanwha Ocean is expanding its cooperation with the U.S. shipbuilding industry, building on its local production base. In July 2026, it opened the South Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation Center and established a framework for cooperation on naval vessel design and development, shipbuilding workforce training, and supply chain development.

The company is jointly designing a strategic transport vessel with U.S. naval vessel design firm Leidos Gibbs & Cox. It is also working with Hanwha Philly Shipyard and Delaware County Community College to train shipbuilding workers, and is pursuing the development of a shipbuilding supply chain with economic organizations in Philadelphia.

A Hanwha Ocean representative said, "We are working to expand our production capabilities, particularly in Pennsylvania, to help rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding industry. We will work with local U.S. partners to drive the growth of the shipbuilding industries in both countries."

Hanwha Philly Shipyard's workforce has grown to about 2,500, roughly double its size in 2024, when Hanwha acquired the shipyard. In July 2026, the shipyard secured an order from the U.S. Maritime Administration for a maritime missile test instrumentation vessel. It has also delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) to date and plans to deliver the fifth vessel in 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.