Hanwha Ocean Completes Overhaul Project on USNS Wally Schirra

Hanwha Ocean recently made history by completing a major overhaul and repair project on the USNS Wally Schirra at its Geoje shipyard, marking the first time a South Korean shipyard has undertaken such a significant refit of a U.S. government vessel. This milestone project is seen as a crucial step in strengthening the relationship between the South Korean industry and the U.S. Navy, especially in light of President Donald Trump’s plans to bolster the navy.

The USNS Wally Schirra, a 40,000-displacement-ton vessel belonging to the Military Sealift Command’s Lewis and Clark dry cargo class, underwent approximately six months of maintenance work at Hanwha Ocean’s shipyard. The extensive project included hull and machinery repairs, major equipment inspections and replacements, and systems upgrades.

During the inspection process, Hanwha Ocean identified additional steps to enhance the vessel’s operations, leading to a revised contract from the U.S. Navy. Over 300 work items were addressed during the dry docking, including hull corrosion treatment and a full rudder replacement. The successful completion of the project allowed the Wally Schirra to depart South Korea on March 12.

Commander Patrick J. Moore of the MSC Office-Korea commended Hanwha Ocean for its work, highlighting the shipyard’s innovative approach in addressing hull, propeller, rudder, and steering gear issues. Hanwha engineers even reverse-engineered a damaged rudder when blueprints were unavailable, showcasing their supply chain resilience, advanced automation capabilities, and skilled workforce.

Expanding Opportunities in the U.S. Navy Market

The project was part of the U.S. Navy’s ship maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) program, with Hanwha Ocean becoming the second South Korean shipyard authorized to bid for contracts after completing the certification process in July 2024. HD Hyundai and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction are also gearing up to enter the MRO program, indicating a growing interest in the $8 billion market.

Looking ahead, Hanwha Ocean has another project in progress, the overhaul of the refueling vessel USNS Yukon, which arrived at the yard in November. The shipyard is actively involving small and medium-sized shipbuilding companies in the Geoje area as subcontractors to promote economic benefits within the industry. With plans to secure five to six MRO contracts in 2025 and expand its overseas business, Hanwha Ocean is poised for further growth in the naval maintenance sector.