Seoul: Samsung Heavy Industries Co., a major shipbuilder in South Korea, announced it has signed a strategic partnership with the United States' Vigor Marine Group to collaborate on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of U.S. naval support ships.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the partnership aims to leverage Samsung Heavy's shipbuilding technology, operational expertise, and optimized facilities under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in Washington. This agreement coincided with President Lee Jae Myung's visit to the United States.
Samsung Heavy plans to extend this collaboration beyond naval projects, aiming to include merchant ships and special-purpose vessels. The company is also considering additional partnerships with U.S. shipyards and exploring joint construction projects in Southeast Asia and other regions.
Vigor Marine Group is known for its expertise in MRO for U.S. Navy and special mission vessels, operating Navy-certified shipyards and processing plants across Oregon, Washington, California, and Virginia.
Samsung Heavy expressed interest in expanding cooperation into shipbuilding equipment clusters and establishing training centers for skilled shipbuilders and sailors in the U.S. "We are deeply honored to collaborate with Vigor Marine Group, a leading MRO shipbuilder in the United States," said Chief Executive Officer Choi Sung-an. "We will strive to provide world-class MRO services and lay the groundwork for the construction of merchant ships and support vessels in the U.S. based on these achievements."