Expansion of Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership
MOUs Signed with U.S. Shipbuilders NASSCO and Conrad
Collaboration Extends from MRO to Military and Commercial Vessels
Samsung Heavy Industries is expanding its cooperation with the U.S. shipbuilding industry to include military support vessels and eco-friendly ships, marking a significant step forward in Korea-U.S. shipbuilding collaboration.
On December 5, Samsung Heavy Industries announced that it had signed a three-party Letter of Agreement (LOA) for business cooperation with General Dynamics NASSCO, a U.S. shipbuilder, and DSEC, a Korean engineering firm, during the World WorkBoat Show held in New Orleans, USA, from December 3 to 5. Through this agreement, the three companies will pursue collaboration in various areas such as ship design, equipment and component supply, and workforce development. They also plan to consider jointly bidding for the U.S. Navy's next-generation military support vessel project.
Joonyeon Kang, Team Leader at Samsung Heavy Industries (right), Dave Carver, President of General Dynamics NASSCO, and Seokyong Yoon, President of DSEC, met at the World Workboat Show held in New Orleans, USA, from the 3rd to the 5th, and signed a business cooperation agreement. Samsung Heavy Industries
The next-generation military support vessel is a ship equipped with the mobility to quickly supply fuel, ammunition, and provisions on the battlefield. It plays a crucial role in the operation of U.S. naval forces. General Dynamics NASSCO, headquartered in San Diego, is a subsidiary of General Dynamics and operates five yards across four U.S. states. As a major shipbuilder, it has extensive experience building a wide range of vessels, from military support ships to commercial ships, container ships, and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) vessels.
DSEC is a Korean shipbuilding and marine engineering specialist that formed a strategic partnership with Samsung Heavy Industries in November. DSEC has maintained a collaborative relationship with NASSCO for over 20 years in ship design and package equipment supply. With Samsung Heavy Industries joining, the combined effect of the three parties in technology, procurement, and design is expected to be even greater.
Samsung Heavy Industries also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Conrad Shipyard for the joint construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels. Conrad Shipyard, which operates five yards in Louisiana and Texas, specializes in building and repairing barges, tugboats, government vessels, and other small- and mid-sized ships, providing a solid foundation in the U.S. market. Through this partnership, the two companies plan to jointly enter the U.S. LNG bunkering market. The market is expected to grow rapidly, driven by increasing demand for LNG fuel and the expansion of bunkering terminals and other infrastructure in the United States.
Previously, in August, Samsung Heavy Industries had been working with the U.S.-based Vigor Marine Group on MRO (maintenance and modification) projects for military support vessels. With this latest round of cooperation, Samsung Heavy Industries is expanding its collaborative scope to include the joint construction of next-generation military support vessels and LNG bunkering ships. A representative from Samsung Heavy Industries stated, "The technology that Samsung Heavy Industries has accumulated over the past 50 years will generate even greater synergy through MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Greater Again) cooperation. We will accelerate technology exchange and workforce development to help strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry."
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