
USNS Yukon, an underway replenishment oiler for the U.S. Navy, is seen on this undated photograph. Hanwha Ocean stated on Nov. 12 that it received a upkeep, restore and operation (MRO) bid for the USNS Yukon. It’s the second MRO bid the Korean firm has received from the U.S. Navy. Courtesy of Hanwha Ocean

Minister of Commerce, Business and Power Ahn Duk-geun speaks throughout a press convention in Sejong, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of Commerce, Business and Power
Korea will strengthen its ties with america by supporting the U.S. Navy, in keeping with plans from the incoming Donald Trump administration to spice up its shipbuilding sector, the trade minister stated Monday.
Business Minister Ahn Duk-geun returned to Seoul on Sunday after a weeklong state go to to the U.S.
His announcement in Sejong comes after Trump expressed his intent to work with the Korean authorities and firms to take care of and restore American warships following his inauguration on Jan. 20.
Ahn stated the Trump administration plans to restructure U.S. legal guidelines “in a considerable diploma” to enhance the nation’s shipbuilding functionality.
Behind such plans is the incoming president’s aim to additional empower the U.S. Navy, in response to the minister. The minister stated he realized this after assembly with U.S. Sen. Todd Younger from Indiana and Julia Nesheiwat, a former homeland safety adviser underneath the Trump administration, who served from 2020 to 2021.
“I realized, after speaking to Nesheiwat, that the incoming administration is now attempting to alter the Jones Act to strengthen the nation’s shipbuilding trade and Navy fleet. That legislation has remained unchanged since World Warfare II,” Ahn stated.
The Jones Act, often known as the Service provider Marine Act of 1920, requires cargo transported inside U.S. waters to be transported on vessels which can be constructed and registered within the U.S., owned by U.S. residents and crewed by People.
“This reveals how [far] the Trump administration is keen to go to attain these targets,“ he added.
Ahn stated he had mentioned together with his American counterparts to advocate for a partnership between Korea and the U.S. to attain these targets.
“China could also be forward of Korea in scale. However we surpass them with expertise and functionality. I satisfied the People that Korea will assist the U.S. strengthen its shipbuilding capabilities for each army and industrial vessels,” Ahn stated.
“We’ll begin discussing with John Phelan, who has been nominated by Trump for U.S. Secretary of the Navy, in about one or two months following his qualification listening to.”
Trump, days after profitable his election on Nov. 3, engaged in talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol and stated he needs Korea’s cooperation for the U.S. shipbuilding trade and upkeep, restore and operations (MRO) of the U.S. Navy. The dialog got here after the U.S. Congressional Analysis Service launched a report that U.S. warships decreased from 318 in 2000 to 296 in 2020, whereas these of China elevated from 210 to 360.
Korean shipbuilders have begun exhibiting curiosity within the MRO enterprise for the U.S. Navy. Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries final 12 months signed a grasp ship restore settlement with the U.S. Naval Provide Methods Command, qualifying themselves to conduct MRO bids for the U.S. fleet.
Final 12 months, Hanwha Ocean secured two MRO contracts with the U.S. Navy for normal overhaul and inspection of U.S. naval vessels, changing into the primary Korean agency to win such offers. In June final 12 months, Hanwha Group, the guardian firm of Hanwha Ocean, additionally invested $100 million in Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania to accumulate a one hundred pc stake within the U.S. shipbuilder. This marked the primary time a Korean firm entered the U.S. home shipbuilding trade.