Hanwha Group's U.S. shipyard, Philile Shipyard, which was acquired in June of last year, is gaining attention as a key hub for shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the United States.

According to the shipbuilding industry on the 20th, Mark Kelly, the U.S. Senator from Arizona who introduced the so-called "Shipbuilding Act" aimed at strengthening the U.S. shipbuilding industry, visited Hanwha Philile Shipyard on the 18th (local time) to discuss future strategic collaboration plans.

Senator Kelly is the key figure behind the introduction of the "Shipbuilding and Port Infrastructure Act for America's Prosperity and Security" in the 118th U.S. Congress.

The bill highlights the fact that only 2% of goods imported into the U.S. are transported on U.S.-flagged vessels and aims to expand the strategic merchant fleet to 250 ships within the next decade. It emphasizes the need for cooperation with allied nations, including South Korea, to achieve this goal.

Philile Shipyard was fully acquired by Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems in 2022, with a $100 million investment (approximately 1.38 trillion KRW at the time). The acquisition is intended to serve as a foothold for entry into the U.S. merchant ship and defense industry markets.

Since 1997, the shipyard has been responsible for building half of the large container ships constructed in the U.S. Its docks are the largest in the U.S., with two 330-meter (length) by 45-meter (width) docks. The shipyard has primarily built medium-sized (MR) tankers, small container ships, and other mid-to-small-sized merchant vessels.

To create synergy with Hanwha Ocean's Geoje plant, which focuses on large vessel orders, Philile Shipyard is expected to expand its portfolio by focusing on medium-sized tankers and container ships.

There is also a potential for expanding into the U.S. Navy's maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business, which is valued at 20 trillion KRW annually, including the possibility of shipbuilding in this sector.

Hanwha Ocean has recently started preparations for its long-term strategy to obtain the Facility Certification License (FCL) for Philile Shipyard, which is necessary to qualify for U.S. Navy vessel maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contracts, as well as shipbuilding. Obtaining the FCL is essential for securing Navy MRO contracts.

After reviewing the shipyard's production processes and listening to feedback from the field, Senator Kelly commented, "Currently, the U.S. has only half the shipbuilding capacity needed to meet demand." He added, "Korean shipbuilding has global competitiveness in terms of technology and productivity, making it the strongest partner for the U.S."

Senator Kelly emphasized, "The direction the U.S. shipbuilding industry should take is not merely recovery, but a leap toward becoming a globally competitive, sustainable industry," and added, "We will support Philile Shipyard in playing a key role at the center of this transformation."

David Kim, CEO of Philile Shipyard, stated, "The U.S. shipbuilding industry faces structural challenges such as supply chain instability and a shortage of skilled labor," and further emphasized, "We will do our best to resolve these issues and play an important role in growing the U.S. shipbuilding industry in a sustainable direction."

Currently, Hanwha Philile Shipyard operates a three-year apprenticeship program, supporting participants in entering the shipbuilding industry without the burden of technical training costs.

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