Hanwha is actively reviewing plans to expand its production capacity, including the potential acquisition of additional shipyards in the United States. With the dry docks at the already acquired Philadelphia Philly Shipyard quickly filling up with orders, the company has determined that securing additional space is necessary to accommodate further contracts. Hanwha Ocean is also focusing on organically connecting its global production facilities, such as by developing technologies that enable shipbuilding work at U.S. shipyards to be conducted remotely from Korea using welding robots and gyro remote controllers.

According to industry sources on January 9, Hanwha is pursuing both an increase in production space in the United States and a shift in its work methods. Michael Coulter, President of Hanwha Defense USA, stated in an interview with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on January 8 (local time) that the company intends to introduce modern manufacturing methods, such as the use of robots currently employed at Korean shipyards, to its U.S. operations. The aim is to enhance production efficiency by applying the expertise of skilled Korean workers to worksites in the United States.

Hanwha Ocean is reportedly working with Hanwha Robotics to establish a remote work system based on collaborative robots utilizing gyro remote controllers. A gyro remote controller detects rotational angles to determine direction. This would allow skilled workers in Korea to remotely control processes at U.S. sites by viewing screens, without needing to be physically present. An industry official explained, "If welding robots equipped with the latest technology are used, operators at the control tower in Korea can manipulate the robots, and the actions will be mirrored by the robots at the U.S. site."

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The WSJ reported that Hanwha is in discussions with federal, state, and local government officials about accessing unused or underutilized dry docks near the Philly Shipyard. Utilizing dry docks at shipyards other than Philly Shipyard to build excess orders is also under consideration. In the long term, Hanwha is leaving open the possibility of acquiring additional shipyards in the United States. In the interview, President Coulter stated, "We are seriously considering acquiring a second U.S. shipyard in another region within the next few years." He noted that this consideration is driven by the fact that the production capacity at Philly Shipyard is being exhausted faster than expected.

Currently, Philly Shipyard has the capacity to build about 1.5 ships per year, but its order backlog reportedly stands at 19 ships. Among these are three vessels ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). After acquiring Philly Shipyard in December 2024, Hanwha has set a plan to invest up to $5 billion (approximately 7.2 trillion won) to increase its annual shipbuilding capacity to as many as 20 vessels. However, with only two dry docks currently available at the shipyard, there are concerns about the immediate ability to handle the increasing number of orders.

Philly Shipyard has also been mentioned as a potential site for building nuclear-powered submarines to be delivered to the Korean Navy in the future. However, the governments of South Korea and the United States currently hold differing positions on the construction site. President Coulter told the WSJ, "Hanwha has the capability to build submarines in either the United States or Korea, but the final decision rests with the two governments."

Hanwha Defense USA is also expanding local cooperation in the field of unmanned surface vessels. In partnership with U.S. maritime drone software company HavocAI, the company aims to supply hundreds of unmanned surface vessels capable of missile launches, cargo transport, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The Trump administration recently allocated more than $3 billion in defense spending to strengthen its fleet of small- and medium-sized unmanned surface vessels.

Last August, at the naming ceremony of the 'State of Maine' ship held at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, USA, officials were seen wearing masks. Photo by Yonhap News

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Industry observers believe that the recent intensification of competition among Korean shipbuilders for the U.S. Navy market is closely linked to Hanwha's latest moves. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured additional contracts for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of U.S. Navy vessels, while Samsung Heavy Industries is beginning the relevant certification process as it prepares to enter the U.S. defense industry market. Hanwha's public mention of expanding its shipyard capacity is seen as a preemptive response in anticipation of further orders.