Canadian Ambassador to South Korea Confirms Hyundai Heavy Industries' Submarine Construction Capabilities
Ambassador Philippe Lafortune and his delegation visit Ulsan during bidding for Canadian submarine acquisition project 'CPSP'
Directly witness the world's best submarine construction facilities, production equipment, and shipbuilding capabilities
“Deeply impressed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' overwhelming production capabilities and world-class technology”
With the bidding for Canada's submarine acquisition project 'CPSP (Canadian Patrol Submarine Project)' worth up to 60 trillion won underway, the Canadian Ambassador to Korea has personally witnessed HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' differentiated shipbuilding capabilities.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced on Tuesday the 30th that Canadian Ambassador to Korea HE Philippe Lafortune and his delegation visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ulsan headquarters.
This visit was made possible after 'One Team' consisting of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration advanced to the final round of the CPSP project in August of this year, and the Canadian side expressed its desire to directly witness HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' submarine construction technology and discuss ways to cooperate in the industry.
HDHHI CEO Lee Sang-kyun welcomed Ambassador Laportune and said, “Let’s take a look at HDHHI’s differentiated competitiveness in the global naval market and explore ways to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.”
Ambassador Laportune and his party toured HDHHI’s merchant ship construction site and then inspected its world-class submarine construction facilities and production equipment, demonstrating deep interest in its project execution capabilities.
In particular, HDHHI presented a submarine platform proposal that meets the Canadian Navy’s requirements, along with mid- to long-term industrial cooperation plans linked to the CPSP project, including defense industry cooperation, technological research and development, and human resource development programs.
Ambassador Laportune said, “I was deeply impressed by HDHHI’s overwhelming production capacity and world-class technological prowess. This visit was a meaningful opportunity to confirm the potential for a stable partnership and industrial cooperation linked to the Canadian Navy’s submarine project.”
“HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is a partner with the potential to contribute to the Canadian industry as a whole beyond the CPSP project,” said Won-ho Joo, head of the Specialized Vessel Business Division at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. “‘One Team’ will present the optimal solution that meets all of the performance, delivery, and industrial base strengthening requirements of the Canadian government.”
Noah Notes: As we draw closer to a decision being made expect to see more of these kinds of visits as various members of government get the show around.
Its easy to forget that Hyundai is involved in the CPSP bid as part of Team One Korea. Obviously they are playing the junior to Hanwha here however that shouldn't minimize their Involvement, as well as the potential ITB offerings that they can throw out.
We've already seen what Hanwha has to offer… yet Hyundai have been very quiet since they joined the team. I have tried to reach out in the past to little luck. Perhaps I will try again?
Anyways, this is the second Korean yard trip we've seen the last three weeks. Deputy Minister Stefanie Beck led a delegation to visit Hanwha’s Okpo yard a few weeks back, and Prime Minister Carney is expected to visit when he comes to Korea for APEC at the end of October.
Expect more visits over the next few months, as well as further visits to Kiel and potentially Wismar as well.
At the very least it exposes our government mandarins to what an industrial based country looks and acts like.