Hanwha Ocean wins first US Navy ship maintenance contract, expanding global naval defense presence.

According to a PR published by Hanwha Ocean on August 29, the firm has become the first South Korean shipyard to secure a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contract for the U.S. Navy.
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Philadelphia Navy Shipyard. (Picture source: Hanwha Ocean)

The company announced that it has been awarded a contract to perform comprehensive maintenance on a 40,000-ton U.S. Navy logistics support vessel. This project, designated under a Maintenance and Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA), is the first of its kind to be executed by a South Korean shipyard.

Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. Navy's logistics support vessel will dock at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje facility in South Korea for a complete overhaul and inspection. The project will also include shore-based maintenance work, utilizing the shipyard's advanced floating facilities.

By winning this contract, Hanwha Ocean has secured a foothold in the U.S. Navy's MRO market, estimated to be worth around 20 trillion KRW annually.

Previously, on August 22, Hanwha Ocean signed the MSRA with the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command. This agreement is a certification by the U.S. government, awarded to shipbuilders that meet high standards in maintenance and repair quality. Hanwha Ocean notably shortened the typical certification period from over a year to just seven months, subsequently securing the MRO contract within a month.

The MSRA certification allows Hanwha Ocean to officially participate in U.S. Navy MRO tenders for the next five years.

Hanwha Ocean views this initial project, conducted as a pilot in the Asia-Pacific region by the U.S. Navy, as a pivotal moment that could influence future MRO market dynamics. The company’s recent acquisition of the Philadelphia Shipyard further accelerates its expansion into the U.S. naval sector.

This achievement is also seen as a product of strong support from South Korea's Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.