HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is deepening its role in the U.S. Navy’s MRO work after completing its first project for the fleet and securing follow-on work on a second ship.
The company will begin maintenance on the vessel Cesar Chavez from the 19th of this month, under a contract obtained in December last year. Commissioned in 2012, the ship is 210 m long and 32 m wide and will undergo detailed work on more than 100 items, covering the hull and structures as well as propulsion, electrical, and auxiliary systems. Handover to the U.S. Navy is planned for March.
This latest award follows the successful redelivery of the 41,000-tonne-class military support ship USNS Alan Shepard, which marked HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ first MRO contract with the U.S. Navy. The agreement for USNS Alan Shepard was signed in August last year, and the yard launched the project in September at a pier located beside facilities of its mid-sized ship business division in Ulsan.
The original work list for USNS Alan Shepard comprised around 60 tasks, but the scope expanded to more than 100 as further requirements were added, including cleaning of the propeller, maintenance of tanks, and inspections of onboard equipment. Despite the broadened scope, the company reported that the schedule was maintained and the vessel was completed without delay.
In an announcement on the 7th, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries confirmed that the ship had been delivered back to the U.S. Navy on time and in excellent condition. A U.S. Navy representative also expressed strong satisfaction with the condition of the Alan Shepard and its on-schedule return.
President Joo Won-ho stated that the first U.S. Navy vessel maintenance project was completed by drawing on the company’s technology and expertise. He added that, since the establishment of the fleet and mid-sized ship business division, the yard will continue to enhance its capabilities and efficiency in order to take a leading position in the U.S. Navy maintenance sector.
Taken together, the successful completion of work on USNS Alan Shepard and the subsequent contract for Cesar Chavez underscore the expanding role of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in U.S. Navy ship maintenance.
