Hanwha Ocean and Polish Shipyards Sign Strategic Cooperation MOU

Agreement Reached with Polish Shipyards Including PGZ SW and Nauta
Laying the Foundation for Securing and Localizing the ORKA Submarine Project

Hanwha Ocean is taking steps to strengthen its business in Poland at the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (Madex·MADEX 2025), the largest defense exhibition in Korea.

Hanwha Ocean (CEO Kim Heecheol) announced that on May 28, at its booth at the Madex exhibition, Special Ship Division President Uh Seongcheol, PGZ SW President Marcin Ryngwelski, and Nauta Shipyard President Monika Kozakiewicz attended the signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate in naval shipbuilding and maintenance.

On the 28th, at the Madex exhibition booth, executives from three companies attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding for naval shipbuilding cooperation: Hanwha Ocean Special Ship Division President Seongcheol Uh (third from the left in the front row), PGZ SW President Marcin Ringbelski (fourth), and Nauta Shipyard President Monika Kozakiewicz (second). Provided by Hanwha Ocean

This MOU is the result of several working-level meetings held by Hanwha Ocean in Poland since March, where the companies discussed ways to collaborate.

Before signing the MOU, on May 27, the representatives from the two Polish companies visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje plant to observe its advanced production capabilities. With the Polish shipyards becoming strategic partners, this is expected to significantly boost Hanwha Ocean's efforts to secure orders for the ORKA submarine project and its localization in Poland.

PGZ SW and Nauta Shipyard, both part of the Polish state-owned defense group PGZ, agreed with Hanwha Ocean to jointly pursue strategic cooperation opportunities not only for the ORKA project but also for the modernization of Poland's naval ship industry and support for exports.

Hanwha Ocean and PGZ SW plan to cooperate on the joint development and export of offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), surface ships, support vessels, unmanned surface and underwater systems, and export-optimized submarines for overseas markets. With Nauta Shipyard, which already holds a significant share in the MRO market, the MOU is expected to establish a foundation for strengthening submarine maintenance capabilities in Poland.

Through this agreement, Hanwha Ocean and the two Polish companies plan to cooperate in joint development and construction, maintenance, technology transfer, and export of various naval vessels, including the ORKA submarine project.

Based on this MOU, Hanwha Ocean aims to further strengthen its ties with local Polish companies and enhance its competitiveness in securing the ORKA submarine project. Additionally, together with more than 200 domestic partner SMEs with advanced technical capabilities, Hanwha Ocean expects to contribute to the expansion of K-maritime defense capabilities through technology transfer, maintenance, and localization of submarine and naval shipbuilding, as well as to the development of the Polish shipbuilding industry.

Upon signing the MOU with Hanwha Ocean, PGZ SW President Marcin Ryngwelski said, "I was deeply impressed by the state-of-the-art smart shipyard system and the exceptionally well-maintained shipyard." Nauta Shipyard President Monika Kozakiewicz also expressed high expectations for the collaboration, stating, "The advanced production system, where dozens of ships such as container ships, LNG carriers, warships, and FPSOs are built simultaneously every year, is truly impressive."

Hanwha Ocean Special Ship Division President Uh Seongcheol stated, "Cooperation with leading Polish companies will serve as a bridge for shipbuilding industry collaboration between Korea and Poland, going beyond simple technical partnerships." He added, "We aim to create a new cooperation model in the global defense industry, extending beyond securing the ORKA submarine project."