Another U.S. Navy vessel is headed to South Korea for repairs — the second this year but the first since Washington and Seoul signed a massive $150 billion “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” (MASGA) agreement. The USNS Alan Shepard, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship, will undergo a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) program at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Mipo Shipyard in Ulsan starting in September. The work is expected to wrap up by November.
The overhaul package will include propeller cleaning, tank inspection and servicing and full systems diagnostics. While not a warship, the 41,000-ton Shepard plays a vital role in keeping combat vessels supplied at sea — enabling warships to remain on station longer without returning to port.
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America’s shipbuilding troubles
Shipbuilding in the United States has long faced capacity and workforce challenges, and its ship repair and maintenance sectors are in equally dire condition. As we’ve reported numerous times at SAN, the issues in U.S. shipbuilding and repair are now an issue of national security for the Department of Defense. Operational demands on the Navy are growing, and many defense experts say if a conflict with China were to erupt in the near future, the Navy would need every ship fully operational.
Under MASGA, South Korea’s major shipbuilders — HD Hyundai, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries — will work with U.S. industry to construct new yards, train skilled workers and assist with maintenance. Navy Secretary John Phelan praised the plan, saying the partnership strengthens readiness and supports the Navy’s forward-deployed presence in the Indo-Pacific.
A strategic first for HD Hyundai
The Alan Shepard contract is HD Hyundai’s first MRO win with the U.S. Navy.
“[It’s] highly significant as it marks the first contract following the government’s proposal of the Korea–U.S. shipbuilding cooperation initiative,” said Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai’s Naval and Special Ship Business Unit. “As Korea’s leading shipbuilder, we will spare no effort in successfully completing the project.”
Earlier this year, HD Hyundai signed technology and productivity agreements with U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries — the Navy’s primary builder of aircraft carriers, submarines and other vessels — and with Edison Chouest Offshore in the commercial sector. The company also hosted the Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Leaders Forum, bringing together academic and industry leaders to discuss joint projects.
A growing role for South Korean shipyards
This is not the first time this year a U.S. Navy Lewis and Clark-class ship was repaired in South Korea. In March, Hanwha Ocean completed an overhaul on the USNS Wally Schirra, marking the first such project of its kind in the country. Since then, Hanwha secured work on other U.S. Navy logistics vessels, including the USNS Yukon and USNS Charles Drew.
U.S. defense officials say leveraging South Korea’s highly capable shipyards enables faster, more efficient maintenance than struggling American facilities can currently provide. As China continues to expand its already vast naval fleet, Washington sees partnerships with allies like South Korea as a way to maintain readiness and keep more ships in fighting shape.
Devin Pavlou (Digital Producer)
contributed to this report.