HJ Shipbuilding & Construction hosted Rear Admiral Neil Koprowski, commander of US Naval Forces Korea, at its Yeongdo Shipyard last week as the South Korean firm positions itself for maintenance contracts following President Trump’s executive order to revitalize American maritime power.
The order, signed on April 10, seeks to revive US shipbuilding and blunt China’s maritime dominance by offering new funding streams to support American shipbuilding. It creates a Maritime Action Plan aimed at rebuilding the US maritime industry after decades of decline.
During the shipyard tour, Admiral Koprowski assessed that HJ Shipbuilding “has sufficient capabilities to carry out large-scale maintenance and construction work” and emphasized that on-site maintenance enhances operational readiness while reducing costs. The company has been preparing to conclude a Master Ship Repair Agreement with the US Naval Supply Systems Command, a prerequisite for official contracts.
HJ Shipbuilding has strategically bolstered its management team, recently appointing Chun In-bum, a former commander who served in the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, as an outside director. As South Korea’s first naval vessel defense contractor, the company has built its reputation through various maintenance, repair, and overhaul projects over five decades.
The executive order’s focus on increasing competitiveness in US shipyards aligns with potential opportunities for established Korean shipbuilders in the global naval maintenance market. Industry analysts expect South Korean shipbuilders to play an increasingly important role in the US strategy to counter China’s shipbuilding dominance.
