John Phelan, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, toured the shipbuilding site, and discussed cooperation plans with Vice Chairman Chung.
According to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Secretary Phelan visited its Ulsan headquarters on the 30th and met with Vice Chairman Chung. Vice Chairman Chung introduced the shipbuilding technology and competitiveness of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, exchanging opinions with Secretary Phelan regarding shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the U.S.
Secretary Phelan toured the special shipyard and commercial shipbuilding site of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries that day. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is building state-of-the-art AEGIS destroyers at the special shipyard. He also boarded the ROKS Jeongjo Dae Wang, which was delivered to the South Korean Navy last November. Additionally, he examined major ships, including the next-generation AEGIS destroyer Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, which is set to launch by the end of this year.
Secretary Phelan noted, "If we cooperate with shipyards that have excellent capabilities, timely maintenance activities will be possible, allowing U.S. Navy ships to perform at their best." Vice Chairman Chung said, "South Korea and the United States are the best allies," emphasizing that they would contribute to rebuilding the U.S. shipbuilding industry based on HD Hyundai's technological capabilities and shipbuilding abilities.
HD Hyundai signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. defense shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls on the 7th of last month to enhance ship production efficiency and advanced shipbuilding technology cooperation. On the 22nd of the same month, executives from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries visited Huntington Ingalls to discuss cooperation plans between the two companies.