As the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiation deal ushers the two countries' MASGA project into a full-fledged phase of cooperation, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Darly Caudle visited Hanwha Ocean's Geoje business sites.

Hanwha Ocean said on the 15th that Chief Caudle, accompanied by Kevin Kim, chargé d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Korea, visited the Geoje business sites and looked around, starting with the exhibition hall on-site, followed by the assembly plant and the special ship quay. From Hanwha Ocean, Chief Executive Kim Hee-cheul and Special Ship Division head President Eo Seong-cheol welcomed Caudle and his party.

CEO Kim Hee-cheul of Hanwha Ocean (left) listens to a briefing on warship business capabilities with U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle (second from left), who visits the Geoje business sites on the 15th./Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean

Standing in front of the U.S. Navy supply ship Charles Drew, on which Hanwha Ocean is performing MRO work, Chief Caudle praised Hanwha Ocean's business capabilities, backed by the world's top-tier large-scale shipbuilding infrastructure, and emphasized that shipbuilding cooperation between the two countries will further strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance.

Starting with the U.S. Navy logistics support ship William Charette in Aug. last year, followed by the Yukon in Nov. last year and the Charles Drew in July this year, Hanwha Ocean holds the first and highest number of U.S. Navy MRO project records among domestic shipyards.

Hanwha Ocean's Special Ship Plant No. 4, completed on the  last month, was built as a factory befitting carbon neutrality by applying an AI-based equipment and energy management platform through smart integrated control. It also applied a pipe fabrication automation system to automate manufacturing processes such as cutting and bending pipes.

Chief Caudle also showed interest in automated plant equipment at Assembly Plant No. 1, which fabricates merchant ship blocks such as LNG carriers and ultra-large container ships, including the "Longi" automatic welding equipment that simultaneously welds 10 ship reinforcements and the ship block welding robots "Dandi" and "Indi."

Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul said, "Hanwha Ocean will fulfill its role not only as the U.S. Navy's 'most reliable partner' but also as the 'icon of strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance,'" adding, "Hanwha Ocean is also doing its utmost to prepare the necessary conditions to ensure the MASGA project is implemented successfully."

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