Image Credits: Wikipedia South Korea’s three largest shipbuilders have unveiled 15 projects in the United States covering ship design, shipyard modernisation, automation, workforce training and supply chain development. Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai and Samsung Heavy Industries announced the projects during the opening of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center in Washington, D.C. The initiatives involve commercial and naval shipbuilding, digital shipyards, production technologies and worker training. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the success of the partnership would be measured by one outcome, the number of ships built in the United States. Among the three companies, Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai have the most advanced plans for building ships in the United States. Hanwha Ocean plans to use Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. to build commercial ships as well as auxiliary naval vessels and naval ship modules. The company is also taking part as a subcontractor in the conceptual design of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation logistics support ship. HD Hyundai is working with U.S.-based Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) to build container ships and is cooperating with Huntington Ingalls, the country’s largest defence shipbuilder, on next-generation logistics support ships. The company is also continuing its search for a U.S. shipyard. Samsung Heavy Industries, which does not own a U.S. shipyard, is focusing on automation, digital production systems and specialised ship designs while expanding its business through partnerships. Hanwha Ocean signs naval ship design and workforce agreements Hanwha Ocean signed a Professional Services Agreement with Leidos to begin the joint design of the Global Fast Sealift (GFS), moving ahead with a partnership announced in April. Leidos’ subsidiary Gibbs & Cox, which has designed more than 70% of U.S. Navy surface combatants since World War II, will work with Hanwha Ocean on the ship’s design, technology