SEOUL, 15 December – HJ Shipbuilding in South Korea said on Monday it has signed its first MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) agreement with the U.S. Navy, bringing the yard into a shipbuilding support program run between the two countries.
Under the contract, HJ Shipbuilding will carry out mid-level maintenance on the USNS Amelia Earhart, a 40,000-tonne dry cargo and ammunition ship operated for the U.S. Navy by Naval Supply Systems Command and Military Sealift Command.
Commissioned in 2008, the USNS Amelia Earhart supports U.S. Navy operations by transporting up to 6,000 tonnes of ammunition, food, and other cargo, as well as about 2,400 tonnes of fuel. The vessel is 210 m long and 32 m wide, can reach a top speed of 20 knots, and bears the name of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.
The ship is scheduled to enter HJ Shipbuilding’s Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan in January, with the yard aiming to complete the work and return the vessel to the U.S. Navy by the end of March. The company regards the project as a key step into the U.S. Navy MRO market, which it characterises as having high entry barriers but stable long-term returns.
Analysts say the MASGA project, together with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Regional Sustainment Framework policy, is strengthening defense cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and raising expectations within South Korea’s defense industry.
HJ Shipbuilding has been preparing to expand into overseas MRO business since 2024, drawing on its history as South Korea’s first marine defense contractor since 1974. Earlier this year, the company applied for a Master Ship Repair Agreement licence and, in September, underwent a site inspection to review its facilities for U.S. Navy maintenance work.
Chief executive Yoo Sang-chul said the agreement confirms the yard’s maintenance capabilities and technical expertise in the global market. He added that HJ Shipbuilding plans to meet the U.S. Navy’s delivery schedules and quality standards and to build long-term trust based on 50 years of experience.
