NewKerala.com

Key Points

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured a US Navy MRO contract for the USNS Alan Shepard. The deal aligns with South Korea’s $150B MASGA initiative to support US shipbuilding. It follows recent partnerships with US firms like Huntington Ingalls. The project will be completed by November at HD Hyundai’s Ulsan shipyard.

Key Points: HD Hyundai Heavy Wins US Navy MRO Deal for USNS Alan Shepard

  • HD Hyundai to service USNS Alan Shepard at Ulsan shipyard
  • Deal follows $150B US-Korea MASGA shipbuilding initiative
  • Strengthens ties with US firms like Huntington Ingalls
  • Part of broader $350B investment package by Seoul
2 min read

South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy wins US Navy MRO project

South Korea’s HD Hyundai secures US Navy MRO contract under $150B MASGA initiative, strengthening US-Korea shipbuilding ties.

"The contract marks the first MRO deal following Korea’s $150B MASGA initiative to boost US shipbuilding. — Yonhap"

Seoul, Aug 6

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea's leading shipbuilder, said on Wednesday it has secured a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) project for a U.S. Navy cargo ship.

The company will carry out the MRO work on the USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE-3), a 41,000-ton Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo vessel, at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co.'s shipyard in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the company said in a press release.

The project is slated for completion and delivery in November, reports Yonhap news agency.

The contract marks the first MRO deal following the Korean government's proposed US$150 billion South Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative, dubbed "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" (MASGA), aimed at revitalising the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The MASGA initiative is part of a broader $350 billion investment package pledged by Seoul, following Washington's decision to lower proposed reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports from 25 percent to 15 percent.

The company did not disclose the contract value.

HD Hyundai has launched several initiatives this year to strengthen bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding with the United States.

In April, the company signed a strategic partnership agreement with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) -- the largest defense shipbuilder in the U.S. -- for technological collaboration and joint naval ship construction.

In June, HD Hyundai entered into a strategic partnership with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), a U.S.-based commercial shipbuilder, to enhance cooperation in the commercial shipbuilding sector.

HD Hyundai Heavy and HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard are two of the three major affiliates under HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE), alongside HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.

HD KSOE serves as a sub-holding company of HD Hyundai, formerly known as Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings.

—IANS

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting development, but I wonder why Indian shipyards aren't getting such contracts. We have major ports like Kochi and Visakhapatnam with excellent infrastructure. Government should push for more global tenders.
A
Aman W
$150 billion cooperation initiative is huge! Meanwhile our defense budget is around $70 billion. Shows how much investment is needed to compete globally. Hope our policymakers are taking notes.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in logistics, I appreciate how South Korea is becoming a global hub for shipbuilding and maintenance. India could learn from their public-private partnership model to boost our maritime sector.
K
Karthik V
The "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" name sounds familiar 😅 Jokes aside, strategic partnerships like these show how defense collaborations are evolving beyond traditional allies. India should be more proactive in this space.
N
Nisha Z
While this is impressive, I hope our own Cochin Shipyard and Mazagon Dock get similar opportunities. We have the talent but need better policies and faster decision-making to compete internationally.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50