Acting US Navy Secretary visits Hanwha shipyard in Philadelphia — Korea Herald
Acting US Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao visited the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia. The visit took place as the United States and South Korea advance a $150 billion shipbuilding cooperation initiative, Korea Herald reports.
Investments in production capacity
Cao toured the shipyard and met with executives of Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Philly Shipyard. The parties discussed investments in US shipbuilding capacity, expansion of the facility and worker training.
According to Cao, as cited by Hanwha Defense USA, US maritime power depends on the country’s ability to build ships at the required speed and scale. According to the US Navy, he has served as acting secretary since April 22. On September 1, President Donald Trump said he intended to nominate Cao for the position on a permanent basis.
US-South Korea cooperation
The visit is linked to the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again, or MASGA, initiative, which the United States and South Korea are implementing as part of a broader strategic investment framework. Hanwha Ocean is named among South Korean shipbuilding companies that may join the project.
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Hanwha acquired the Philadelphia shipyard in 2024. Since then, the company has more than doubled its US workforce to nearly 2,500 employees and invested in workforce training and additional production capacity.
Orders and expanding presence
The shipyard has already delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels to the US Maritime Administration. Delivery of the fifth and final vessel is scheduled for next year.
Hanwha also seeks to expand defense production in the United States through its proposed acquisition of Austal USA, the US operations of Australian shipbuilding company Austal. The conglomerate is seeking opportunities to build ships for the US Navy by combining its own shipbuilding technologies with local production and workforce development.
