South Korea pumps new energy into US shipbuilding efforts

Two South Korean shipbuilding titans are throwing their weight into new efforts to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding, with two impactful business decisions announced this week.

Hanwha Group, South Korea’s seventh largest business conglomerate, announced on Aug. 27 a $5 billion investment in Hanwha Philly Shipyard, which it acquired last December.

The company will install two new docks and three quays, plus build out a new assembly facility to boost shipbuilding capacity from two vessels to at least 20 per year. The shipyard will produce LNG carriers, naval modules and eventually U.S. naval vessels.

Present at the announcement in Philadelphia was South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who also took part in a ceremony to christen a new training vessel for the U.S. Maritime Administration.

“The Republic of Korea’s shipbuilding industry is setting out to take on a new challenge to contribute to strengthening U.S. maritime security and rejuvenating America’s shipbuilding industry,” said Lee at the event .

Additionally, the HD Hyundai conglomerate, the owners of South Korea’s largest shipyard, announced this week the merger of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Mipo.

The merger will consolidate its shipbuilding facilities located in Ulsan and expand HD Hyundai’s output as it seeks further cooperation with the United States.

HD Hyundai is a leader in producing an array of vessels, including submarines, and is reportedly looking to expand its production of icebreakers.

South Korea is a global heavyweight in shipbuilding, combining longtime tradition with technologically sophisticated shipyards that can churn out vessels at high speed with the power of smart technology and automated tools.

As the U.S. seeks to expand its maritime power to keep pace with an increasingly aggressive China , South Korean manufacturers are stepping in to help kick-start the effort.

Jobs will be created to benefit the U.S. workforce as Hanwha Philly commences its efforts to overhaul and modernize the shipyard, the company announced.

“We are creating good manufacturing jobs, building the world’s most advanced ships and fostering a new skilled workforce right here in America,” Hanwha Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim said per a release .

“This is just the beginning. Hanwha is committed to being a partner in building the next chapter of American shipbuilding.”

Zita Ballinger Fletcher previously served as editor of Military History Quarterly and Vietnam magazines and as the historian of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. She holds an M.A. with distinction in military history.

两家韩国造船巨头正全力投入到振兴美国造船业的新工作中，本周宣布了两项影响深远的商业决策。

韩国第七大企业集团韩华集团于 8 月 27 日宣布，将向其去年 12 月收购的韩华费城造船厂投资 50 亿美元。

该公司将新建两个船坞和三个码头，并建造一个新的组装厂，以将造船能力从每年两艘提升至至少20艘。该船厂将生产液化天然气运输船、海军模块，并最终建造美国海军舰艇。

出席在费城举行的发布会的有韩国总统李在明，他还参加了美国海事管理局一艘新训练船的命名仪式。

李在活动上表示：“韩国造船业正着手迎接新的挑战，为加强美国海上安全和振兴美国造船业做出贡献。”

此外，韩国最大造船厂的所有者HD现代集团本周宣布，HD现代重工和HD现代尾浦造船厂将合并。

此次合并将巩固其位于蔚山的造船设施，并扩大HD Hyundai的产量，以寻求与美国进一步合作。

HD Hyundai 是生产各种船舶（包括潜艇）的领先企业，据报道，该公司正寻求扩大破冰船的生产规模。

韩国是全球造船强国，它将悠久的传统与技术先进的造船厂相结合，利用智能技术和自动化工具，能够高速生产船舶。

为了应对日益咄咄逼人的中国，美国正寻求扩大其海上力量，而韩国制造商正在介入，帮助启动这项努力。

韩华费城造船厂宣布，随着该船厂开始进行改造和现代化建设，将创造就业机会，造福美国劳动力。

韩华副董事长金东冠在一份声明中表示：“我们正在美国创造良好的制造业就业机会，建造世界上最先进的船舶，并培养一支新的技术工人队伍。”

“这仅仅是个开始。韩华致力于成为美国造船业下一个篇章的合作伙伴。”

齐塔·巴林格·弗莱彻曾任《军事史季刊》和《越南》杂志的编辑，以及美国缉毒署的历史学家。她拥有军事史硕士学位（成绩优异）。