Sea-Air-Space: HII, HHI Forge New International Collaboration

HII Executive Vice President and President of Ingalls Shipbuilding Brian Blanchette, left, and Won-ho Joo, chief executive of the naval and special ship business unit at HHI, sign the MOU. *Photo credit: HII*

In an April 7 morning ceremony, executives from leading shipyards in the United States and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding designed to strengthen both companies’ technology exchange and productivity.

Details are limited on the MOU between U.S.-based HII (Booth 923) and Korea-based HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), but “we’re open to wherever this relationship can take us,” Brian Blanchette, HII’s executive vice president and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, said during the signing ceremony. “By working with shipbuilding allies and sharing best practices, we believe this MOU offers real potential to help accelerate delivery of quality ships.”

Blanchette said the MOU will initially focus on technology exchange and component outsourcing for destroyers. “HD has an excellent supply exchange for destroyer programs, and we’re looking to leverage lessons learned,” he said.

Won-ho Joo, chief executive of the naval and special ship business unit at HHI, said both companies share a commitment to cutting-edge technology. Blanchette said there isn’t a firm timeline in terms of milestones for the MOU, but the companies plan to host a delegation in the near future to have a conversation about next steps.