Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) is forging a strategic partnership with a U.S. shipyard to launch collaborative efforts in the shipbuilding industry. This initiative is part of the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project.
SHI announced on Tuesday that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vigor Marine Group in Washington, D.C. on Monday. The agreement focuses on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for U.S. Navy support vessels.
Vigor Marine Group is a specialized shipyard that excels in the maintenance and modernization of U.S. Navy ships, as well as in providing MRO services for special mission vessels. The company operates Navy-certified dry docks, processing facilities, and repair services across four states: Oregon, Washington, California, and Virginia.
Through this MOU, SHI plans to leverage its cutting-edge technology, operational expertise, and optimized facilities in the shipbuilding and offshore sectors to actively participate in MRO projects for the U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command.
Building on the success of this collaboration, SHI aims to expand its partnership to include commercial and specialized vessels, and to actively pursue joint construction projects with U.S. shipyards.
The company is also exploring opportunities to secure additional partner shipyards for further collaboration.
Choi Sung-An, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SHI, stated that they are committed to providing world-class MRO services and establishing a foundation that will enable them to build U.S. commercial and support vessels based on their achievements in this partnership.
Francesco Valente, CEO of Vigor Marine Group, commented that through the partnership with SHI, they aim to enhance their MRO capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region and explore opportunities for constructing U.S. commercial vessels. Further noting that they are dedicated to contributing to the strengthening of U.S. naval power by delivering the highest quality services and products.