Busan: Hanwha Ocean Co., a significant South Korean shipbuilder, announced Thursday that it has entered into preliminary agreements with two Polish shipyards to collaborate on the construction and maintenance of naval vessels. These developments took place during the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX 2025) at BEXCO in Busan, situated approximately 325 kilometers south of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hanwha Ocean signed separate memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with PGZ SW and Nauta Shipyard. The agreements are seen as more than mere technological collaborations between companies; they are anticipated to foster bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector between South Korea and Poland. A Hanwha official emphasized the strategic importance of these partnerships in a press release.
The collaborations are aligned with Hanwha Ocean's strategic aim to secure a favorable position in Poland's Orka Project, a submarine procurement initiative valued at up to 8 trillion won (US$5.8 billion). The agreement with PGZ SW focuses on joint development efforts in areas such as offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), surface vessels, support ships, and unmanned underwater systems.
Meanwhile, the partnership with Nauta Shipyard, a key player in Poland's naval maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) market, is designed to bolster Hanwha's submarine MRO capabilities. Both PGZ SW and Nauta Shipyard operate as subsidiaries under Poland's state-run defense group PGZ.