It has been confirmed that the government has decided to establish one of the "shipbuilding and marine technology cooperation centers," regarded as the core of Korea-U.S. shipbuilding cooperation, in Washington, D.C. The other site is widely expected to be in Texas in the South.
According to the government and the shipbuilding industry on the 16th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources last week selected a consortium made up of the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) and the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association as the final operator to carry out the "Korea-U.S. shipbuilding and marine technology cooperation center project." KRISO will serve as the lead research and development institution, and the association will serve as a joint research and development institution.
The center's core missions are training local personnel and improving shipyard productivity. To that end, it is preparing a program called the "Masters Academy." A person involved in the project said, "The phase after the center is established will be a survey of local demand in the United States," adding, "A committee within the center will review the confirmed demand for training production personnel and consulting for shipyards, and will proceed with dispatching Korean experts and setting training schedules."
The first task of the Masters Academy is workforce development, which is the United States' top priority. Personnel dispatched directly from Korea will provide on-site training at U.S. shipyards for about one to three months, and a post-training feedback process will also take place. The three major Korean shipbuilders (HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Heavy Industries) are also expected to support the effort by dispatching their master artisans for short periods.
Consulting to improve shipyard productivity is also a key pillar of the project. Upon request, the center will dispatch Korean experts to U.S. shipyards for two weeks to as long as a month to assess the entire local shipyard. After returning, it will provide U.S. shipbuilders with a consulting report on plans to improve shipyard productivity. Shipyards across the United States will be eligible.
A person involved said, "To improve efficiency, we will likely discuss what equipment to introduce, how to change the production line, and how best to manage operations."
The final task of the Masters Academy is inviting U.S. personnel. The center is pursuing a plan to select about 10 production workers from U.S. shipyards and invite them to Korea. The goal is to raise the quality of learning by bringing them to world-class Korean shipyards for apprenticeships.
One of the center locations, previously known only as being on the East or West Coast, has also been decided. Because industrial cooperation in shipbuilding is intertwined with political variables, one site will be set up in Washington, D.C. The second center is being considered for a region with a university specializing in shipbuilding and ocean engineering to facilitate research and development (R&D) and the identification of cooperation items, and Texas is said to be a strong candidate.
With the operator selection completed, the project is expected to gain momentum. The association and KRISO, selected as operators, have already dispatched staff to the United States to conduct preliminary work. They also plan to hire local employees going forward.
A person involved said, "Although it may be somewhat flexible depending on local circumstances, it will definitely proceed in the second half of this year," adding, "In addition to the core projects, we will continue activities such as information gathering and international seminars."
A government official said, "We plan to operate specific projects in consideration of the cooperation needs of the U.S. side and our corporations."