On 3 December, General Dynamics NASSCO announced that it had entered into a three-way cooperation arrangement with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries and long-time collaborator DSEC Co., Ltd. to advance ship design and manufacturing automation for vessels built in the United States.

Under the new understanding, the three companies intend to work together on commercial, naval and other government shipbuilding projects in the U.S. market. This includes cooperation on the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Logistics Ship program. The arrangement builds on many years of shipbuilding collaboration between the United States and South Korea and combines more than 160 years of collective design and construction experience.

Since the 1950s, General Dynamics NASSCO has been a major U.S. designer and builder of large naval auxiliary and commercial ships, with more than 150 vessels delivered. The San Diego shipyard is currently building the Navy’s 20-ship John Lewis Fleet Oiler class and is leading design work for the future Submarine Tender class.

Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO, said the cooperation brings together three companies with a record of success in shipbuilding and over 160 years of combined experience. Drawing on nearly two decades of work with DSEC and now adding Samsung Heavy Industries, he noted that the parties see an opportunity to apply their shared expertise and lessons learned to upcoming shipbuilding programs.

DSEC, which has provided shipbuilding and marine engineering services for more than 30 years, has significant experience with ship designs built in U.S. yards and has supported a wide range of commercial, naval and government projects across the country. President Seogyong Youn said the new memorandum strengthens the company’s long-standing cooperation with General Dynamics NASSCO by adding the capabilities of Samsung Heavy Industries, and stated that DSEC aims to contribute additional value to the U.S. shipbuilding and wider maritime industry.

Samsung Heavy Industries, known worldwide for its advanced commercial vessel construction, focuses on liquefied natural gas carriers, containerships, drill ships, and floating production units. The company currently holds a top global market share in drill ships, LNG carriers and floating LNG production units, and has 120 commercial ships and three FLNG units under construction. Director Joonyun Kang said Samsung Heavy Industries plans to use its technological expertise, skilled workforce and production infrastructure in this three-way framework to help enhance the capabilities of U.S. shipbuilding industries.

The agreement comes as South Korean shipbuilders expand their presence in the U.S. maritime sector. In October, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Huntington Ingalls Industries signed a memorandum to cooperate on the construction of Navy auxiliary vessels and to examine possible acquisitions of U.S. shipyards. In December 2024, Hanwha bought Philadelphia’s Philly Shipyard for $100 million and later committed roughly $5 billion to upgrade and enlarge the facility.

In November, the United States and South Korea issued a joint agreement that includes approximately $150 billion of planned Korean investment in the American shipbuilding sector as part of a broader bilateral deal.

Reference: gCaptain