Overview
- HJ Shipbuilding & Construction signed a mid-term availability agreement with Naval Supply Systems Command and Military Sealift Command to service the 40,000-ton Lewis and Clark–class ship.
- Work will take place at the Yeongdo shipyard in Busan starting in January 2026, with redelivery to the U.S. Navy planned by the end of March.
- The scope includes hull and major system inspections, repairs, component replacements, and painting to sustain the vessel’s readiness.
- The company says this is the first U.S. Navy maintenance award to a midsize South Korean yard, following favorable facility reviews by U.S. naval officials in Busan.
- The deal extends growing U.S.–South Korea sustainment cooperation under initiatives such as MASGA and the DoD’s Regional Sustainment Framework, following recent work by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai on sister ships.