By Park Hye Ri
Photos = Hanwha Ocean

Domestic shipbuilding has completed its first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) project for the U.S. Navy.

Shipmaking giant Hanwha Ocean on March 13 said the USNS Wally Schirra, a dry cargo vessel, departed that day from the company's facility in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, after maintenance was completed.

Taking around six months after the vessel arrived in September last year, the MRO included overall maintenance such as that of the hull and engine, inspection and replacement of major equipment, and system upgrades.

Hanwha Ocean entered the U.S. Navy MRO market last year by winning the contract for the Wally Schirra a month after signing in July 2024 a master ship repair agreement with the U.S. Navy. In November the same year, it also landed a deal for the regular repair of the USNS Yukon, a refueling ship of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet.

Commander Patrick J. Moore, commanding officer of the Military Sealift Command Office Korea, said the project's completion was thanks to the dedication of Hanwha Ocean executives and staff and the Wally Schirra crew over several months, calling it evidence of close bilateral cooperation and predicting more opportunities to boost the relationship.

"The global naval MRO market is worth an estimated USD 8 billion and continues to grow," Hanwha Ocean added. "Our goal is to win MRO orders for five to six U.S. naval ships this year and our plan is to expand our MRO business abroad."


hrhr@korea.kr