Seoul and Washington’s proposed shipbuilding partnership is opening new opportunities for Korea’s small and medium-sized shipyards. The initiative follows submissions from the country’s major builders for the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project. Smaller yards are now preparing their own proposals and targeting maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) work for U.S. naval vessels.
Rising Interest From Smaller Shipyards
HJ Shipbuilding & Construction expects to sign a master ship repair agreement with the U.S. Navy by the end of the year. The agreement is required for civilian yards to work on naval vessels.
Earlier this month, the company hosted a senior U.S. Department of Commerce official at its shipyard in Busan. His visit followed an earlier review by a U.S. Navy commander. Company officials said the recent visits helped showcase their technical capabilities and their readiness for MRO work.
New Partnerships for U.S. Naval MRO
SK Oceanplant is preparing to qualify for U.S. naval maintenance and repair. U.S. naval officers inspected the company’s operations in September. In May, the company formed a partnership with two domestic firms to strengthen its capabilities for U.S. MRO projects.
The company said its experience in vessel repair and naval construction supports its aim to participate in future U.S. contracts.
Expansion Efforts by K Shipbuilding
K Shipbuilding has formed a task force to pursue a repair agreement with the U.S. Navy by the end of next year. It is also upgrading its docks for MRO operations. The company plans to use its location near a major U.S. naval activity center to support this goal.
A shipbuilding industry official noted that smaller yards can also benefit from supplying equipment and components for U.S. naval construction.
Government Measures to Support Smaller Yards
The government is preparing measures to prevent smaller shipbuilders from being excluded from the MASGA initiative. Officials said the new plans will aim to strengthen competitiveness across the entire sector and help small and medium-sized shipyards grow alongside major players.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free — Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Korean Times
