Key Facts
- Partnership Center Opened
- March 23
- US Federal Subsidies
- $8 million over four years
- Apprentice Training Goal
- Up to 500 by next year
- Instructors to be Dispatched
- About 30 from Korea
- US Institutions with Naval Architecture Departments
- Four
Background
The United States faces a severe shortage of both production workers and research and development personnel in its shipbuilding industry, according to industry reports. Consulting firm McKinsey & Company has noted that major US shipyards struggle to secure enough skilled workers such as welders and electricians.
In February, the US government released the Maritime Administration’s comprehensive strategy, the Maritime Action Plan (MAP), which defines shipbuilding as a core national security industry and names workforce development as one of its four pillars.
To address this, the Korea-US Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) opened on March 23 to support the Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation project MASGA. Korean shipbuilders and universities have since moved to train shipbuilding workers in the United States.
Current Situation
Hanwha Ocean has signed a memorandum of understanding with Delaware County Community College (DCCC), near Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. in Pennsylvania, to develop an instructor training program in shipbuilding. A Hanwha Ocean official said, "We proceeded to develop an instructor training program based on the judgment that instructors must first be trained for the Korean shipbuilding technologies to be introduced going forward."
Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc. and DCCC have been building a shipbuilding workforce training model since January this year with subsidies from the US federal government totaling $8 million over four years. The goal is to train up to 500 apprentices by next year, and a system linking trainees' on-site practicums with hiring is being built.
Samsung Heavy Industries will jointly establish a workforce development center with US MRO specialist shipbuilder Vigor Marine Group. Samsung Heavy Industries will build a training center near Vigor Marine Group's shipyard and support VR/AR welding and painting training programs.
The Korea-US Shipbuilding Partnership Center also plans to operate and identify US shipbuilding workforce education programs through 2028 and dispatch about 30 professional instructors from Korea.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| US federal subsidies for Hanwha Philly-DCCC training | $8 million over four years |
| Apprentice training goal | Up to 500 by next year |
| Professional instructors to be dispatched from Korea | About 30 |
| US institutions with naval architecture and ocean engineering departments | 4 |
Impacts
The training initiatives aim to address the US shortage of skilled shipyard workers and R&D personnel. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) under the Department of Education, only four 2-year and 4-year institutions in the United States have naval architecture and ocean engineering departments: the University of New Orleans, the University of Michigan, the Naval Academy, and Webb Institute.
Korean universities are also contributing to cultivating future talent. The Seoul National University Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering is discussing an agreement to run a credit recognition exchange program with San Diego State University (SDSU) next year. As early as the fall semester next year, SDSU mechanical engineering students will enroll at Seoul National University as exchange students, with core courses in fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, and production mechanics.
At SDSU, Professor Patrick Kwon, who became chair of the mechanical engineering department in 2024, is pursuing the establishment of a new naval architecture and ocean engineering program and cooperation with Korean corporations. Since March, SDSU has been operating a joint research center with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI-SDSU Advanced Maritime Center).
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the instructor training program and apprentice targets are met, Hanwha Philly Shipyard could see up to 500 trained apprentices by next year, potentially easing the immediate labor shortage at that yard. However, the broader impact on the US shipbuilding industry may depend on the expansion of similar programs.
The planned credit exchange between Seoul National University and SDSU could begin as early as fall next year, but it remains unclear whether the agreement will be finalized in time. If it proceeds, it may help rebuild the pipeline of naval architecture graduates in the United States, but sustained growth would require more universities to offer such programs.
The Korea-US Shipbuilding Partnership Center's plan to operate education programs through 2028 and dispatch about 30 instructors could provide steady support, but the long-term effect on the US shipbuilding workforce will depend on continued cooperation and funding.
Source: hellenicshippingnews.com
