Hanwha Philly Shipyard names Hyuk Kim president to lead naval expansion

TOTE Services announced on Oct. 30 that it selected Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) to build a Medium Landing Ship (LSM) for the Navy and Marine Corps. The award covers one vessel valued at $269 million at Hanwha Philly Shipyard. It includes options for three additional vessels.¹

HDUSA calls the selection its first contract to build ships for the Navy.² TOTE holds the prime contract and awards and manages the shipyard subcontracts directly.³

In July, TOTE announced a contract valued at $2.2 billion from the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Maritime to serve as vessel construction manager for up to eight Medium Landing Ships.³ HDUSA says the Philadelphia yard has already built and delivered four National Security Multi-Mission Vessels under the same management model with TOTE.²

TOTE issued a competitive request for proposals to qualified U.S. shipyards in July. It says HDUSA's selection rested on competitive pricing and acceptance of TOTE's subcontract terms. Contract discussions continue with Bollinger Shipyards and Fincantieri Marinette Marine, both directed shipyards under TOTE's contract that it expects to help build the fleet.¹

TOTE Services executed a shipyard subcontract with Hanwha Philly Shipyard on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to build the first of a planned series of Missile Range Instrumentation Vessels (MRIVs) for the Missile Defense Agency. Just before, TOTE signed its own contract with the Maritime Administration to manage the program's construction. The ships will replace Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector, tracking ships built in 1965 and 1970. The first is scheduled for delivery in 2030.¹

Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean, part of South Korea's Hanwha group, bought the yard in December 2024.⁵ The agency's ship reaches it through the Transportation Department: the program runs under an existing Maritime Administration (MARAD) contract vehicle with TOTE, as an interagency effort with the Department of War.¹ The yard already builds MARAD's National Security Multi-Mission Vessels, training ships for future mariners, under TOTE's management.^1–3 The MRIV keeps that hull design, with 70% overall commonality, and will use the same production line and workforce.¹

Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced the award in July at a Philadelphia christening, calling the ship Golden Defender. He said it would support the President's Golden Dome missile defense system.² TOTE says it has since finalized terms, advanced the design and secured firm fixed pricing in less than three months.¹ Hanwha Defense USA Chief Executive Michael Coulter said in July that the yard is "continuing to evolve in complexity" as Hanwha pursues its "ambition to become a premier U.S. shipbuilder."²