Hanwha Ocean announced on the 20th that Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona visited the Hanwha Philly shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 18th (local time).
Representative Mary Gay Scanlon from Arizona accompanied him during the visit. Senator Kelly is known for leading the introduction of the "Shipbuilding and Port Facilities Act for U.S. Prosperity and Security" in the 118th U.S. Congress.
The bill pointed out that only 2% of goods imported into the United States utilize American-flagged vessels. It aims to expand the strategic vessel fleet to 250 ships within the next 10 years and emphasizes the need for cooperation with allied countries like South Korea for shipbuilding. Although the bill was discarded due to the end of the congressional session, President Donald Trump's remarks on collaboration highlighted the possibility of cooperation with the South Korean shipbuilding industry.
Hanwha Ocean discussed strategic cooperation measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the U.S. shipbuilding industry with Senator Kelly. He personally inspected the manufacturing process and toured one of the five national security multipurpose vessels ordered by the U.S. Maritime Administration, the "State of Maine." He then met with trainees and training officials at the Philly shipyard training center to review the on-site training program.
During the visit, Senator Kelly noted, "The rebuilding of U.S. shipbuilding should not be limited to naval vessel construction but must also include the building of merchant ships and the establishment of a supply chain," adding that "cooperation with Korea, especially Hanwha, is essential."
He highlighted the significant possibility that the Chinese shipbuilding industry could pose a geopolitical threat, stating, "When China dominates the global shipbuilding industry, U.S. economic security and maritime sovereignty may face serious challenges," and proposed that "the direction for U.S. shipbuilding should aim not just for recovery but for a leap into a sustainable industry with international competitiveness."
David Kim, president of the Hanwha Philly shipyard, said, "Currently, the U.S. shipbuilding industry faces structural limitations such as supply chain instability and a lack of skilled personnel," and added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the Philly shipyard plays a crucial role in solving these issues and facilitating sustainable growth for the U.S. shipbuilding industry."