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The USNS Amelia Earhart, serviced by HJ Shipbuilding & Construction. / HJ Shipbuilding & Construction

HJ Shipbuilding & Construction has successfully completed its first maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) project for a U.S. Navy vessel. By executing additional maintenance beyond the initial contract scope, the company is evaluated to have proven its operational capabilities in the U.S. Navy MRO market.

According to HJ Shipbuilding & Construction on the 15th, the U.S. Navy dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Amelia Earhart completed all maintenance operations and departed Busan Port. Following its milestone as the first mid-sized South Korean shipbuilder to secure a U.S. Navy vessel MRO contract, the company has now successfully completed its maiden project.

In December of last year, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction signed a maintenance contract for the 40,000-ton class Amelia Earhart with the U.S. Navy's Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and Military Sealift Command (MSC). Afterward, following the ship's arrival at the Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan in January this year, maintenance operations were carried out, including hull and major systems inspections, equipment maintenance, and parts replacements.

The initial contract period was just over three months, but the project scope expanded as additional tasks were undertaken during the maintenance process. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction identified defects and additional maintenance requirements that were not part of the initial contract scope, presenting remedial solutions that the U.S. Navy accepted, which widened the maintenance scope.

Consequently, the project timeline, originally set through April, was extended by six months to October, and the contract value also increased. HJ Shipbuilding & Construction explained that revenue and profitability also rose as the scope of work broadened.

The U.S. Navy also reportedly expressed satisfaction with the maintenance quality and project execution capabilities demonstrated during this project. Having secured experience meeting U.S. Navy maintenance standards through this initial project, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction plans to aggressively pursue follow-up orders.

Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, said, "Despite frequent schedule adjustments and an expanded scope of work, we successfully completed our first MRO project after pouring all our efforts into maintenance through close consultation with the U.S. Navy." He added, "With this achievement as momentum, we will further strengthen cooperative ties with the U.S. Navy and focus on securing subsequent orders."

Meanwhile, the USNS Amelia Earhart is a 40,000-ton dry cargo and ammunition ship measuring 210 meters in length and 32 meters in width, tasked with replenishing ammunition, provisions, cargo, and fuel for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and combat vessels.

                                                                                                                 Kim Yu-ra