U.S. Navy Visits HJ Heavy Industries Yeongdo Shipyard, Praises Technology and Requests Expanded Maintenance Work

Visit to MRO site on February 12 to inspect project progress

HJ Heavy Industries has reportedly received high satisfaction ratings from U.S. Navy officials for its ongoing U.S. Navy vessel MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) project.

HJ Heavy Industries explained that on February 12, a delegation of six people, including Jim Goodhart, Deputy Director of the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) Ship Management Office, and Navy inspectors, visited the Busan Yeongdo Shipyard to inspect the maintenance status of the 40,000-ton-class combat support ship USNS Amelia Earhart, which is currently undergoing MRO work.

HJ Heavy Industries signed a mid-life maintenance contract for the USNS Amelia Earhart with the U.S. Navy in December last year and immediately began work. The company plans to complete maintenance, repair, overhaul, and performance upgrade work by the delivery deadline in March and then hand over the vessel.

Yoo Sangcheol, CEO of HJ Heavy Industries (second from the left), is exchanging greetings with officials from the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command who visited Yeongdo Shipyard. Second from the right is Military Sealift Command (MSC) Deputy Director Goodhart Jim.

After checking the progress of the work, the shipyard’s operational conditions, and the equipment whose maintenance has been completed, the visiting delegation was said to have given a positive assessment of HJ Heavy Industries’ maintenance quality and technical capabilities. They also requested that the company make every effort in carrying out additional maintenance tasks that are underway beyond the scope of the original contract.

HJ Heavy Industries is carrying out additional work by identifying new maintenance requirements that were not included in the initial contract during the maintenance process and then obtaining approval from the U.S. Navy. The company explained that it is enhancing the completeness of the maintenance work by detecting and correcting functional defects and flaws that the client had been unable to identify in advance. If these additional contracts are reflected, both revenue and profit are expected to increase.

CEO Yoo Sangchul said, "As this is our first MRO project, we are making every effort in process and quality control to meet the U.S. Navy’s high quality standards," adding, "We will build trust by meeting the delivery deadline and delivering a high-quality vessel."

Yu Sangcheol, CEO of HJ Heavy Industries (second from the left), is taking a commemorative photo with officials from the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command who visited Yeongdo Shipyard. Fourth from the right is Goodhart Jim, Deputy Director of the Military Sealift Command.