Samsung Heavy, DSEC and Nassco form partnership
Nassco is already constructing 20 oiler vessels for the US Navy
(Source: Nassco)
Samsung Heavy Industries has expanded its links with the US shipbuilding sector through a three-way agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering’s DSEC unit and the US repair yard Nassco, part of General Dynamics. The move follows Samsung Heavy’s agreement last month to form a strategic partnership with DSEC.
The new coalition will work on ship design, production, automation and technology in the US, with plans to support commercial, naval and other government programmes, including the US Navy’s Next Generation Logistics Ship project.
Nassco is already constructing the US Navy’s 20-unit John Lewis-class fleet oilers and is designing the service’s future submarine tender class. It has a long record of adopting South Korean design expertise, with recent ConRo ships, container ships and medium-range tankers developed in collaboration with DSEC and other Korean designers.
Nassco president Dave Carver said: “Having worked closely with DSEC over the past two decades and now welcoming Samsung Heavy Industries, there is great opportunity in leveraging our expertise and years of learning to execute on the next generation of shipbuilding.”
The partnership aligns with South Korea’s commitment of USD 150 billion to help revitalise US shipbuilding under the Make American Shipyards Great Again initiative. Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have made similar commitments, with Hanwha investing USD 5 billion in Hanwha Philly Shipyard and HD Hyundai becoming the anchor investor for MASGA through a multibillion-dollar agreement with Cerberus Capital Management.
