Page 37: of Marine News Magazine (January 2026)

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Feature

U.S. Shipbuilding Deals again debate of if, how and when Hanwha Philly could ed vessel construction and repairs. participate in the program to build – in whole or part – HII was formed in 2011 when two legacy players,

U.S. nuclear-powered submarines. The latest twist came Newport News Shipbuilding, and Ingalls Shipbuilding late in the year when Alex Wong, global chief strategy of? - (in Pascagoula, Mississippi), both with commercial vessel cer at Hanwha Group, was reported to say that Hanwha’s newbuilds in their histories, combined. Their Memoran-

Philly Shipyard has the capability of building a nuclear- dum of Agreement (MOA), signed at a high-level confer- powered submarine for the U.S. Navy. “The U.S. gov- ence in South Korea, related to cooperation for both naval ernment’s commitment to nuclear-powered submarine and commercial vessel construction. In a press release re- capability, its own and of the allies is very strong,” Wong garding the MOA, HII said: “HII is a global, all-domain said during the Hanwha’s media day at the shipyard in defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s

Philadelphia on Monday. “We stand ready to ful? l the most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service ability to build those submarines here in Philly when the of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to governments are ready.” protect peace and freedom around the world.” During its

Seoul pledged to invest $150 billion in the U.S. ship- heyday, the Newport News yard had built vessels includ- building sector in a trade deal signed last month to lower ing ? ve MR tankers delivered in the late 1990’s and still the U.S. tariffs on imports of Korean automobiles to 15% operating in the Fairwater and Keystone ? eets. The Ingalls from 25%. yard, primarily active in building military vessels, had also

According to a Reuters report, the company is hiring built drilling rigs. talent with expertise in a Virginia-class submarine, as they Another deal announced in 2025 saw Davie, the Cana- see strong interest from Washington in expanding the U.S. dian shipbuilder with a specialization in ice-breaking ves- submarine industrial base for such designs. sels, announce that it would be acquiring two facilities in

Texas from ship-repair stalwart Gulf Copper. Davie’s plans

More from South Korea include an investment in the $1 billion magnitude to up-

In October 2025, another Korean yard, HD Hyundai grade existing facilities to create what industry observers

Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s leading commercial have described as an “American Icebreaker Factory” at the shipbuilder having delivered more than 2,400 deep sea Gulf Copper shipyards in Galveston and Port Arthur. The vessels since its formation in the early 1980s, announced transaction comes at a time that the U.S. Coast Guard the formation a strategic alliance with Huntington Ingalls (USCG) has struggled to maintain a ? eet of ice-capable

Industries (HII) now exclusively engaged in defense relat- cutters, and ice-breakers-recently taking the unprecedent-

CALIFORNIA VOYAGER, built at NASSCO.

Hanwha= Barry Parker www.marinelink.com MN 37|