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U.S. Ambassador Visits HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to Discuss Naval Shipbuilding Cooperation

2024.07.15


On Monday the 15th, Philip S. Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, and his delegation visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to tour the naval & special shipyard and vessels under construction. (From left to right in the photo: Michael Malin, U.S. Joint Military Advisor; Nolan Barkhouse, the U.S. Consul in Busan, Korea; Philip S. Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; Chung Kisun, the Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai).

▶ Ambassador Philip Goldberg inspects vessels and facilities at Ulsan HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
▶  Continued visits from high-ranking officials, including the U.S. Secretary of Navy, raises expectations for MRO project collaboration
▶ “We will lead the Korean defense industry by strengthening collaboration with our long-time ally and global powerhouse, the United States”

Seoul, South Korea – July 15, 2024 - The U.S. Ambassador and his delegation visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard to discuss collaboration opportunities in the naval vessel construction sector.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on Monday, July 15th that U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Philip S. Goldberg, and Consul Nolan Barkhouse from the U.S. Consulate in Busan visited their Ulsan shipyard.

During the site visit, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai, Chung Kisun, and President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Lee Sangkyun, accompanied the delegation to provide an overview of the company’s current major projects.

The visit took place after Goldberg intended to firsthand tour HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, recognized globally as a leading shipbuilder in commercial ships and naval vessels. He aimed to discuss collaboration opportunities during the visit.

After inspecting HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ commercial shipbuilding site, Goldberg's delegation moved to the naval & special shipyard. There, they examined ongoing projects including next-generation Aegis destroyers and state-of-the-art patrol ships, as well as docks and manufacturing facilities.

Recent visits by senior U.S. officials to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have raised prospects for cooperation with the U.S. Navy, especially as the U.S. considers outsourcing some maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) tasks for its own vessels overseas.

Earlier in February this year, U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to personally verify its naval vessel construction capabilities. Following his visit to domestic shipyards including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Del Toro expressed astonishment at the level of digitalization in shipbuilding processes and real-time monitoring. Del Toro said he was “pleasantly surprised to see high-quality ships, including Aegis destroyers, being constructed at significantly lower costs than ours.”

Lee Sangkyun, the President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, stated that “the world's focus on security is greater than ever before and we aim to lead the Korean defense industry by enhancing cooperation with the United States, our long-standing ally and global powerhouse.”

Philip S. Goldberg, the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, said “I believe there is great potential for the United States and HD Hyundai to establish an excellent partnership in both the commercial and naval vessel sectors.”

Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries recently became the first in Korea to sign the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the U.S. Navy's Naval Supply Systems Command for ship MRO. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has also expanded its related operations by signing agreements to enhance cooperation in ship MRO with organizations such as the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), domestic maintenance specialists, and mid-sized shipyards.


 
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