Samsung Heavy Industries said on the 16th that executives from GD NASSCO visited the Geoje shipyard on the 15th to discuss practical cooperation measures, including the U.S. Navy's next-generation logistics ship (NGLS) program.
GD NASSCO is the shipbuilding subsidiary of General Dynamics in the United States, with a record of delivering more than 150 U.S. Navy support ships and commercial vessels since the 1950s. The company is known as the only shipyard on the U.S. West Coast capable of handling the entire process from design and construction to repair.
Attending the event were Vice Chairman Choi Sung-an of Samsung Heavy Industries; David J. Carver, president of GD NASSCO; Brett Hirschman, director of business development and government relations; and other executives from both companies.
Samsung Heavy Industries said the visit demonstrated a commitment not only to successfully executing the NGLS project but also to expanding the scope of cooperation between the two companies from design to automation technologies.
GD NASSCO's leadership said they expect Samsung Heavy Industries' technological prowess to contribute significantly to the NGLS concept design and the anticipated construction phase.
In response, Samsung Heavy Industries pledged to cooperate with GD NASSCO throughout the entire process from design to construction to ensure not only that the U.S. Navy's requirements are met but also that efficient construction is achieved.
After working-level talks, the executives from both companies also toured the in-yard factory featuring Samsung Heavy Industries' latest automation technologies, as well as the safety and painting VR experience center.
The in-yard factory applies Digital Twin technology to operate equipment remotely, or enables robots to recognize a ship's 3D CAD model and measurement data on their own to perform welding.
Samsung Heavy Industries is pushing to transform the Geoje shipyard into an automated and unmanned facility operating 24 hours a day, based on robot transformation (RX) technology.
In addition, Samsung Heavy Industries plans to expand technology exports as a "solution provider" through cooperation in the RX field, going beyond ship design and construction support.
Vice Chairman Choi Sung-an of Samsung Heavy Industries said, "The visit by GD NASSCO's leadership further strengthened the strategic partnership between the two companies," adding, "The combination of GD NASSCO's production infrastructure with Samsung Heavy Industries' automation and smart technologies will play a major role in advancing the shipbuilding industries of both countries."
David J. Carver, president of GD NASSCO, responded, "Cooperation between the two companies will create significant synergies for the Korean and U.S. shipbuilding industries, and we will strengthen our collaboration to ensure that these technological advances translate into tangible benefits for the next generation."