General Dynamics NASSCO has taken a significant step in enhancing its involvement in the American shipbuilding market by signing a Memorandum of Agreement with South Korean shipyards. This partnership focuses on advancing vessel design, manufacturing automation, and related technologies, particularly aimed at fulfilling the needs of the U.S. market.
The agreement, forged with DSEC, based in Chungjang, and Samsung Heavy Industries, sets the stage for collaborative efforts to pursue major commercial, naval, and government programs. Notably, this includes work on the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Logistics Ship, a crucial initiative for modernizing the naval fleet.
Executives from NASSCO highlighted that this collaboration will strengthen their long-standing relationship with South Korean partners, combining American naval production with Korean design and manufacturing expertise.
Based in California, NASSCO has a rich history, having delivered around 150 ships since its inception in the 1950s. Currently, the company is engaged in constructing the Pentagon’s 20-ship John Lewis-class fleet oilers and is involved in designing potential replacements for the Emory Land-class submarines. Many of NASSCO’s recent commercial vessels have been developed in partnership with South Korean firms, reflecting a successful collaborative approach.
DSEC has been instrumental in supporting U.S. maritime programs for over 30 years, offering a range of services including ship design, procurement, quality oversight, and logistics support. Samsung Heavy Industries, on the other hand, brings substantial scale and experience, with ongoing construction projects that include liquefied natural gas carriers, container ships, drill ships, and floating production units.
Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO, expressed his optimism about the partnership, stating, “This partnership brings together three extraordinary companies with a track record of success and over 160 years of combined shipbuilding and design experience.” He emphasized the importance of DSEC’s long-standing collaboration and the potential that comes from now working alongside Samsung Heavy Industries to leverage their collective expertise in the next generation of shipbuilding.
