Hanwha Ocean, the shipbuilding and naval defense arm of South Korea’s Hanwha Group, is expanding its ambitions in Canada beyond the country’s planned submarine procurement program, positioning itself for a role in a future naval training vessel project while helping modernize local shipbuilding infrastructure.
The move reflects a broader strategy by South Korean defense companies to deepen their presence in North America not only as equipment suppliers but also as long-term industrial partners. For Hanwha Ocean, that means offering shipbuilding expertise, technology transfer and workforce development alongside potential vessel construction contracts.
The company recently hosted a delegation from Ontario Shipyards at its Geoje shipyard, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding complexes, to discuss cooperation on Canada’s next-generation training vessel program. The discussions covered concept design work, production planning and preparations for future construction activities.
Hanwha Ocean and Ontario Shipyards are building on a partnership agreement signed earlier this year. Under the arrangement, Hanwha Ocean plans to provide design and engineering support while sharing advanced shipbuilding technologies and operational know-how to strengthen the Canadian company’s construction capabilities.
The two sides also discussed plans to modernize Hamilton Shipyard in Ontario, where future vessels could potentially be built. Workforce development was another major focus, with Hanwha Ocean working alongside Ontario Shipyards and Mohawk College on training programs covering welding, fabrication, electrical systems and robotics.
Those efforts address one of the key challenges facing Western shipbuilding industries: a shortage of skilled workers and aging industrial infrastructure. South Korea’s shipyards are widely regarded as among the most efficient in the world, giving companies such as Hanwha Ocean an opportunity to export not only ships but also the expertise behind them.
Ontario Shipyards operates facilities in Hamilton, Port Weller and Thunder Bay and has been active in the Great Lakes region for more than three decades. Hanwha Ocean has steadily strengthened ties with the company, including visits to Canadian shipyards and meetings with Ontario government officials focused on future cooperation.
While Canada’s submarine competition has attracted the most international attention, Hanwha Ocean’s growing involvement in training vessels, shipyard upgrades and workforce development suggests the company is pursuing a broader role within Canada’s maritime sector. The strategy could provide a foundation for future defense and commercial shipbuilding opportunities as Canada works to expand and modernize its naval industrial base.
Jeong Seung-gyun, executive vice president and head of overseas naval ship business at Hanwha Ocean, said the two companies have developed a close working relationship through technical exchanges and reciprocal visits since signing their memorandum of understanding.
He said the partnership demonstrates how Hanwha Ocean can contribute to the future of Canadian industry while creating opportunities for deeper long-term cooperation between South Korea and Canada.
