Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet Visits Hanwha Ocean
“Contributing to Strengthening Military Capacity through Successful Projects”
“Significant Advancement for the U.S.-Korea Alliance”, Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, met with Admiral Steven Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, during his visit to Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje plant to discuss cooperation plans.
Kim and Admiral Koehler toured the maintenance site of the “USNS Wally Schirra” at the Geoje plant on the 24th and explored potential cooperation in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships deployed in the Indo-Pacific region.
Hanwha Ocean signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) in July to enter the U.S. Navy’s ship MRO business and secured its first project in late August with the overhaul of the USNS Wally Schirra. This logistic support vessel, with a displacement of 40,000 tons, is undergoing approximately four months of maintenance at the Geoje plant and is expected to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in January next year.
Vice Chairman Kim explained that Hanwha Ocean is enhancing its understanding of the U.S. Navy’s maintenance management system through the Wally Schirra project. He promised to optimize Hanwha Ocean’s key supply chain to ensure successful operations in future U.S. Navy ship MRO projects.
Admiral Koehler responded by stating, “Having a reliable partner in the operation of the Pacific Fleet is very important.”
Additionally, Vice Chairman Kim stated that Hanwha Ocean plans to expand its involvement in the U.S. Navy’s projects through RSF, the regional maintenance framework plan by the U.S. Department of Defense. He noted that they would contribute to strengthening U.S. naval power by leveraging the technology and experience Hanwha Ocean has accumulated, utilizing recently acquired facilities such as the Philip Shipyard, among other strategies.
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to establish military maintenance hubs in five Indo-Pacific countries, including Korea and Japan, under the RSF plan. In response, Hanwha Group is striving to enter the MRO business across U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force weapon systems.
After inspecting the USNS Wally Schirra’s maintenance site, they also toured the submarine construction area, commercial vessel, and offshore plant construction zones, and digital technology-based production facilities at the Geoje shipyard.
Admiral Koehler remarked, “Hanwha Ocean’s role in maintaining U.S. logistical support ships in the Western Pacific is a significant advancement for the U.S.-Korea alliance,” and added that “This is an important step to help the U.S. Navy ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”