Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-chul (fourth from left), Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston (third from left) and officials pose for a photo after their meeting. /Photo courtesy of Hanwha Ocean
Hanwha Ocean presses bid for Canada’s submarine program; advances talks with Nova Scotia government and Irving Shipbuilding
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[Korea Financial News reporter Shin Hye-joo] Hanwha Ocean (CEO Kim Hee-chul) has opened formal talks to expand cooperation with the Nova Scotia provincial government and Irving Shipbuilding, Canada’s largest shipbuilder.
According to Hanwha Ocean on April 14, Kim visited Halifax and met with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and other provincial officials to discuss defense and industrial cooperation tied to Canada’s submarine program.
During the meetings they exchanged views on priorities under Canada’s defense modernization agenda: strengthening defense readiness, building maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, training local personnel and establishing an industrial base.
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Hanwha Ocean outlined a long-term industrial participation and sustainment strategy for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) and said it intends to expand its industrial contributions within Canada.
Nova Scotia has an industrial base suited to ship construction and long-term sustainment (MRO). The province also has competitive capabilities in advanced sectors such as aerospace, offshore wind and artificial intelligence.
After the recent Team Canada trade mission to South Korea, cooperation between Hanwha Ocean and local companies has accelerated. Hanwha plans to integrate Canadian firms—Modest Tree, GeoSpectrum Technologies and Ultra Maritime among them—into the global submarine supply chain through partnership agreements.
Kim also met with Dirk Lesko, president of Irving Shipbuilding, to explore collaboration that could help the Royal Canadian Navy develop an indigenous submarine capability.
Both sides agreed that a Hanwha-Irving partnership could deliver sustainable job creation, develop skilled workers, stabilize supply chains, increase small- and medium-sized enterprise participation and strengthen Canada’s domestic industrial ecosystem—outcomes Ottawa has prioritized. These elements are critical for building a Canada-led, long-term submarine sustainment industry.
Irving Shipbuilding is Canada’s largest shipyard and is carrying out several major naval programs simultaneously, including Arctic and coastal patrol vessels, MRO for Halifax-class frigates, and work on future destroyer programs equipped with next-generation Aegis systems. Under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), Irving has experience in warship construction and sustainment and has developed a broad domestic supply chain.
Hanwha Ocean is an integrated shipbuilding and defense company with full-life-cycle capabilities in the design, construction and sustainment of naval vessels, including submarines. Combining Hanwha’s advanced design and construction expertise with Irving’s local production and supply-chain capabilities could help secure both a reliable sustainment system and the industrial base Canada needs for its submarine program.
“In the CPSP procurement process, rapid force generation, a stable MRO system, a Canada-led industrial base, long-term technology transfer and job creation are key evaluation criteria,” Kim said. “Through close cooperation with Canada’s industry and government, we will build a sustainable, Canada-centered submarine operating ecosystem that meets these requirements and continue to strengthen our competitiveness.”
Meanwhile, Hanwha Ocean recently signed a teaming agreement with PCL, Canada’s largest construction company, and has been expanding its local partnerships to support its bid for the Canadian submarine project.
Shin Hye-joo, Korea Financial News reporter hjs0509@fntimes.com
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