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A view of Hanwha Philly Shipyard. / Hanwha Ocean

Hung Cao, nominee for US secretary of the Navy, visited Hanwha Ocean’s Philly Shipyard in the United States to discuss ways to strengthen US shipbuilding capabilities.

According to shipbuilding industry sources on Sept. 10, Cao visited the shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 9 local time.

Cao is also serving as acting secretary of the Navy. He has been carrying out the duties of the post since former Navy Secretary John Phelan abruptly resigned in April and was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to formally take over the position.

The visit marked the first official trip to Philly Shipyard by the top US Navy official in about a year. In July last year, then-Navy Secretary Phelan visited the shipyard and discussed the Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation initiative known as the MASGA project with Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan. Cao’s visit is seen as significant because it came as Hanwha moves to expand its production capabilities in the United States in earnest.

After touring the shipyard, Cao was reportedly briefed by Hanwha officials on US shipbuilding capabilities as well as plans to expand facilities and workforce.

“America’s maritime power depends on its ability to build ships at the speed and scale the nation requires,” Cao said, stressing the importance of expanding shipbuilding capabilities and strengthening the workforce.

Philly Shipyard, acquired by Hanwha Ocean in December 2024, is considered a key hub for the MASGA project, a Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation initiative. Since the acquisition, Hanwha has expanded its local workforce while continuing to invest in production facilities and workforce training.

US Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also accompanied Cao on the visit. Coons said the expansion of Philly Shipyard’s shipbuilding capabilities would help strengthen US competitiveness in its maritime rivalry with China.

                                                                                                           Kim So-young