Joo Won-ho, second from right, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' special ship business, applauds with U.S. naval officers at HD Hyundai's Global R&D Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of HD Hyundai
U.S. naval officers and high-ranking diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Korea visited R&D facilities of HD Hyundai and Hanwha Ocean, Friday, to seek cooperation with the Korean shipbuilders.
According to HD Hyundai, 13 high-level U.S. government officials visited the company's Global R&D Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to discuss potential cooperation in future warships, as well as eco-friendly and digital technologies.
The visitors included Rear Adm. Thomas Anderson, who serves as the program executive officer of ships, and Rear Adm. William Greene, who serves as the commander of the Navy Regional Maintenance Center and director of surface ship maintenance, modernization and sustainment.
“With the world's No. 1 shipbuilding capabilities, we hope this will open up more opportunities on naval shipbuilding and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) businesses with the United States,” said Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' special ship business.
Amid the widening gap between China's state-funded shipyards and the U.S.' increasingly outdated shipyards, experts and international media have advised the U.S. Navy to join hands with their allies' shipbuilders. The Wall Street Journal, for example, said in its recent report that no single global shipyard matches the production capacity of HD Hyundai's facility in Ulsan.
In February, Anderson and U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited HD Hyundai's shipyard in Ulsan to observe the company's naval ships including the latest Aegis destroyer. U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg also visited the shipyard in July to discuss naval business opportunities.
“We are thankful to HD Hyundai for hosting us today at their impressive maritime R&D facility and the productive dialogue on where the U.S. and Korea have the opportunity to collaborate in shipbuilding for mutual benefit,” Anderson said.
Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul, front row sixth from left, poses with U.S. naval officers at the company's R&D Campus in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean
The U.S. delegation also examined eco-friendly fuel technology and energy storage systems for submarines, during their visit to Hanwha Ocena's R&D Campus in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province.
Earlier this month, the shipbuilder became the first Korean company to win an MRO order from the U.S. Navy, starting a three-month overhaul of the USNS Wally Schirra, a 40,000-ton dry cargo and ammunition ship which arrived at its shipyard on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province.
“I hope the recent visit of the U.S. Navy to the Siheung R&D Center will serve as a stepping stone for technological exchanges, not only in the MRO projects, but also in future shipbuilding endeavors,” Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul said.