General Dynamics NASSCO has partnered with South Korean shipbuilders Samsung Heavy Industries and DSEC Co., Ltd. to create a strategic alliance focused on improving ship design and manufacturing automation in the U.S. market.
This partnership, announced on December 3, will allow the three companies to work together on various shipbuilding projects, including the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Logistics Ship program. This agreement draws on decades of collaboration between U.S. and South Korean shipbuilders, combining over 160 years of experience in the industry.
Since the 1950s, General Dynamics NASSCO has been a leading designer and builder of naval auxiliary and commercial vessels in the U.S., having delivered more than 150 ships so far. The San Diego-based shipyard is currently building the Navy's 20-ship John Lewis Fleet Oiler class and is also designing the future Submarine Tender class.
“This partnership unites three outstanding companies with a proven success record and over 160 years of combined experience in shipbuilding and design,” said Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. “After two decades of collaboration with DSEC and now partnering with Samsung Heavy Industries, we have a great opportunity to utilize our expertise and experiences to advance the next generation of shipbuilding.”
DSEC has been offering shipbuilding and marine engineering services for over 30 years, bringing significant knowledge of U.S.-built ship designs and supporting many commercial, naval, and government projects.
“This MOA enhances our long-standing partnership with General Dynamics NASSCO by integrating the strengths of Samsung Heavy Industries, and we aim to provide greater value to the U.S. shipbuilding and maritime industry,” said Seogyong Youn, President of DSEC.
Samsung Heavy Industries is well-known internationally for its advanced construction of commercial vessels, including liquefied natural gas carriers, container ships, drill ships, and floating production units. The company currently leads the global market in drill ships, LNG carriers, and floating LNG production units, with 120 commercial ships and three FLNG units being constructed.
“Through this tri-party collaboration, SHI is dedicated to using its technological expertise, skilled workforce, and production capabilities to improve the U.S. shipbuilding industry,” said Joonyun Kang, Director of SHI.
This agreement comes at a time when South Korea is actively expanding its presence in the U.S. maritime sector. In October, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Huntington Ingalls Industries signed a memorandum to jointly build Navy auxiliary vessels and are looking into acquiring U.S. shipyards. Additionally, Hanwha purchased Philadelphia's Philly Shipyard for $100 million in December 2024 and has committed around $5 billion to upgrade and expand the facility.
The United States and South Korea also announced a joint agreement in November that commits approximately $150 billion of Korean investment to the American shipbuilding sector as part of a broader bilateral initiative.