Hanwha Showcases Submarine Construction Capabilities to Canadian Prime Minister Ahead of 60 Trillion Won Contract Bid

From the left, Dongkwan Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, and Minseok Kim, Prime Minister, are inspecting the assembly plant at Hanwha Ocean Geoje Shipyard in Geoje, Gyeongnam on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

Hanwha Group emphasized its modernized shipbuilding infrastructure and its ability to meet delivery schedules to Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, during his visit to the Hanwha Ocean Geoje facility. The visit comes ahead of the selection of a contractor for Canada’s 60 trillion won Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

According to Hanwha Group on October 30, Prime Minister Carney visited the Hanwha Ocean Geoje facility in the afternoon, accompanied by David McGuinty, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, and representatives from key partner companies involved in the Canadian submarine project.

Hanwha Ocean was selected as a qualified candidate for the CPSP, which was announced by the Canadian government in August. Dongkwan Kim, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, boarded the recently launched submarine Jang Youngsil with Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Kim Minseok to explain its construction capabilities. The Jang Youngsil is the same model proposed to Canada. Canadian officials were invited to directly verify Hanwha’s shipbuilding capabilities.

The Royal Canadian Navy plans to retire its four 2,400-ton Victoria-class submarines, which were acquired from the United Kingdom in 1998, by 2035. As a result, the ability to meet delivery schedules is considered a key evaluation point. Hanwha Ocean stated that if the CPSP contract is signed next year, it will be able to deliver four Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarines before 2035, when the Canadian Navy’s current submarines retire. Afterward, Hanwha plans to deliver one submarine per year, for a total of 12 submarines.

Vice Chairman Kim stated, “The Canadian submarine project will be the greatest achievement for Korea’s defense industry and will pave a new path for the sector. Hanwha Group will mobilize all of its capabilities to ensure this becomes a turning point for establishing a long-term partnership between Korea and Canada.”