US Navy Pacific Fleet Commander Visits Hanwha Ocean... Meets Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan

US Navy Pacific Fleet Commander and Delegation Visit Hanwha Ocean Geoje Facility for Maintenance Ship Inspection

Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, "Contributing to US Navy Force Enhancement through Successful Project Execution"

Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan met with Admiral Steve Koehler, Commander of the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet, who visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard on the 24th.

Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, meets with the Commander of the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet.

Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and Commander Steve Koehler toured the ‘Wally Schirra’ vessel undergoing maintenance at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard together and discussed the possibility of further cooperation in the MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) business for 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 officially enter the U.S. Navy ship MRO business, and subsequently secured the first project at the end of August for the overhaul of the ‘Wally Schirra’ ship. This military support ship, with a displacement of 40,000 tons, is scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in January next year after approximately four months of maintenance work at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan explained that Hanwha Ocean is enhancing its understanding of the U.S. Navy ship maintenance management system through the ‘Wally Schirra’ project. Based on this, Hanwha Ocean promised to optimize the supply chain of key equipment to ensure successful operations in future U.S. Navy ship MRO projects. In response, Commander Koehler said, “Having a reliable partner in operating the Pacific Fleet is extremely important.”

Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan stated, “We will respond to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) plan and expand the U.S. ship business through this MRO project,” adding, “We will contribute to strengthening U.S. naval power through various measures, including utilizing the recently acquired Philly shipyard, based on Hanwha Ocean’s technological capabilities and accumulated experience.”

After inspecting the ‘Wally Schirra’ maintenance site, Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and Commander Koehler also toured the submarine construction area, commercial ship and offshore plant construction area, and digital technology-based production facilities within Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard.

After touring the Geoje shipyard, Commander Koehler evaluated, “Hanwha Ocean’s undertaking of maintenance for U.S. military support ships in the Western Pacific is an important advancement for the Korea-U.S. alliance.” He also said, “It is a significant step in helping the U.S. Navy ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Captain Keith Sauls of the ‘Wally Schirra’ conveyed to Commander Koehler that “Hanwha Ocean is an excellent partner for the U.S. Navy, satisfactory in all aspects including facilities, expertise, and worker proficiency.”

Following the visit by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to the Geoje shipyard in February this year and the visit by the U.S. Navy Naval Sea Systems Command to the Siheung R&D campus last month, Hanwha Ocean expressed its commitment to actively strengthening its partnership with the U.S. Navy and continuing substantial and sustained cooperation in the ship MRO field.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense has planned to establish logistics maintenance hubs in five Indo-Pacific countries, including South Korea and Japan, under the RSF policy. In line with this policy, Hanwha Group, a leading Korean defense company, is focusing significant interest and efforts on entering the MRO business across U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force weapon systems.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.