The Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) has officially opened in Washington, D.C., as the two countries step up cooperation on advanced shipbuilding technologies and maritime innovation.
The centre is intended to serve as a hub linking industry, academia and research institutions in both countries.
At the opening ceremony, the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), Texas A&M University and classification society ABS signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on next-generation shipbuilding technologies and knowledge exchange.
Under the agreement, KRISO will provide ship and ocean engineering expertise, KIAT will support industrial technology innovation and international cooperation, Texas A&M will contribute research and education capabilities, and ABS will provide expertise in classification, certification, maritime safety and regulatory compliance.
ABS Chairman and CEO John McDonald said the partnership would help advance safer and smarter shipbuilding by bringing together research, industry expertise and practical application.
The launch comes as South Korean shipbuilders Hanwha Ocean, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Samsung Heavy Industries expand cooperation with the U.S., particularly in naval shipbuilding, smart shipyard development and workforce training.
The announcement also coincides with the introduction of the Shipbuilding Investment and Workforce Act in the U.S. Congress, which proposes creating Maritime Prosperity Zones to encourage long-term private investment in the country’s shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing sectors.
