Strategic Visit Highlights Strengthening Industrial and Defense Cooperation
Today, Hanwha Ocean welcomed the Honourable Christopher Skeete, Quebec’s Minister of International Relations, to its world-class shipyard in Geoje, marking a significant moment in the growing relationship between Canadian provincial leadership and advanced South Korean naval manufacturing capabilities as the minister toured one of the most technologically sophisticated shipbuilding complexes globally while observing live production activities associated with the KSS-III submarine program and engaging directly with company leadership on opportunities for long-term collaboration across industrial, technological, and defense sectors.
Advanced Shipbuilding Capabilities on Display
During the comprehensive facility tour, the Quebec delegation witnessed the scale, automation, and precision engineering that define Hanwha Ocean’s operations, including high-efficiency modular construction processes, integrated digital monitoring systems, and robotics-driven fabrication lines that demonstrate how modern shipyards are evolving to meet the increasingly complex requirements of naval defense programs while maintaining strict cost and schedule discipline, with particular focus on the production workflow supporting the KSS-III submarine, a next-generation platform recognized for its stealth performance, endurance, and advanced onboard combat systems designed for contemporary maritime security environments.
Memorandums of Understanding Signal Broader Collaboration
The visit followed a sequence of recent engagements and formal cooperation agreements between Hanwha Ocean and leading Quebec-based organizations, including a memorandum of understanding with MDA Space centered on satellite communications integration and defense-space technology collaboration as well as an agreement with Montréal International aimed at expanding partnerships in advanced manufacturing innovation, workforce development, and cross-border industrial investment, all forming part of Hanwha’s wider strategy to generate sustainable economic value and technological exchange throughout Canada while reinforcing bilateral industrial resilience.
Demonstrations of Smart Manufacturing and Digital Innovation
Throughout the guided walkthrough, officials observed highly automated welding stations operating with precision robotics, intelligent logistics systems coordinating material flow across production zones, and smart-yard digital platforms that synchronize design, fabrication, and quality assurance in real time, alongside an augmented-reality-enabled coating and painting demonstration that illustrated how immersive visualization tools can enhance productivity, safety, and accuracy in complex marine manufacturing environments, offering a tangible example of how next-generation shipbuilding integrates software intelligence with heavy industrial capability to deliver consistent performance improvements.
Firsthand Experience Aboard a Newly Launched Submarine
A key highlight of the visit involved boarding the KSS-III submarine launched in October 2025 for the Republic of Korea Navy, allowing Minister Skeete and accompanying delegates to examine internal command systems, crew accommodations, propulsion architecture, and mission-critical technologies while gaining direct insight into the vessel’s construction methodology and operational readiness, an experience that reinforced Hanwha Ocean’s proposal to provide the same proven platform for Canada’s future underwater defense requirements under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, emphasizing maturity of design and reduced technical risk.
Emphasis on Delivery Certainty and Production Readiness
Company representatives highlighted Hanwha Ocean’s established track record in delivering complex naval assets within committed timelines and financial parameters, supported by vertically integrated supply chains, standardized modular engineering practices, and scalable production infrastructure capable of accelerating build schedules without compromising quality or safety, factors considered essential for large-scale national defense procurements where reliability, lifecycle performance, and predictable budgeting are critical decision drivers for government stakeholders.
Exploring Integration with Quebec’s Marine and Defense Ecosystem
Discussions during the visit extended beyond technology showcase toward concrete pathways for industrial cooperation that could embed Quebec’s maritime and defense capabilities within Hanwha Ocean’s long-term Canadian strategy, examining opportunities related to skilled workforce participation, localized equipment manufacturing, in-country maintenance and sustainment services, and supplier network inclusion that would distribute economic benefits across regional industries while strengthening sovereign capability in naval support infrastructure.
Role of the Lévis Marine Cluster and Canadian Shipbuilding Strength
Particular attention was given to the strategic importance of the Lévis region’s marine industrial cluster, home to Davie Shipbuilding in Lévis, one of Canada’s principal shipbuilding centers with extensive experience in vessel construction, conversion, and lifecycle maintenance, positioning the region as a potential cornerstone for collaborative production, technology transfer, and long-term sustainment activities linked to future submarine programs while reinforcing domestic employment and industrial growth.
Continuity of High-Level Canadian Engagement
Minister Skeete’s visit forms part of a broader sequence of official Canadian delegations engaging directly with Hanwha Ocean facilities and leadership, following earlier tours by the Honourable Victor Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development in Ontario, and the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement in Canada, illustrating sustained governmental interest across multiple jurisdictions in evaluating advanced submarine manufacturing partnerships and industrial participation frameworks.
Strengthening Bilateral Industrial Partnerships for the Future
The cumulative impact of these engagements underscores a shared commitment between Canadian stakeholders and Hanwha Ocean to explore mutually beneficial defense and manufacturing collaboration grounded in technology exchange, workforce development, and long-term economic value creation, reflecting a broader trend in international defense procurement toward cooperative industrial ecosystems that extend beyond simple equipment acquisition to encompass innovation partnerships, regional investment, and enduring strategic alignment capable of supporting evolving maritime security requirements for decades to come.
Source Link:https://www.hanwha.com/
