Hanwha Ocean Signs Landmark Agreements to Strengthen Canada’s Sovereign Defence Industrial Capacity, Expand Domestic Shipbuilding Workforce, and Accelerate Large-Scale Shipbuilding in Ontario
Press Release + Noah Note
Strategic MOU advances industrial capability and technology transfer in Ontario; trilateral LOI establishes an embedded shipbuilding workforce development and innovation hub
Hamilton, Ontario, February 18, 2026 — Hanwha Ocean and Ontario Shipyards have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate the return of large-scale shipbuilding in Ontario and to strengthen Canada’s ability to deliver future naval programs.
In parallel, Hanwha Ocean, Ontario Shipyards and Mohawk College have entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish an embedded shipbuilding training hub at Ontario Shipyards’ Hamilton facility, aligned with the sector’s long-term workforce requirements.
Together, the agreements establish a coordinated industrial and workforce development framework intended to position Ontario as a scalable centre of excellence for defence-related shipbuilding and advanced marine manufacturing in the Great Lakes region.
Memorandum of Understanding
Hanwha Ocean and Ontario Shipyards
Under the bilateral MOU, Hanwha Ocean will provide structured technical and operational support to Ontario Shipyards to strengthen production readiness and shipyard performance.
The cooperation will focus on:
design and engineering
production planning and construction sequencing
quality management systems
advanced shipyard processes and smart-yard best practices
These measures are intended to accelerate the re-establishment of large-scale vessel construction capability in Ontario, enhance production efficiency, and support long-term naval industrial readiness.
As part of this cooperation, Hanwha Ocean will provide support to the design and construction for a Training and Recruitment vessel that Ontario Shipyards will begin building in 2026, serving as a practical demonstration of next-generation shipbuilding capability in the province.
Subject to the award of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), Hanwha Ocean intends to pursue further strategic investment in Ontario, including the establishment of a dedicated shipbuilding training centre and expanded industrial cooperation with Ontario-based suppliers
Letter of Intent
Hanwha Ocean, Ontario Shipyards and Mohawk College
The trilateral LOI establishes a structured pathway to address persistent shortages in skilled trades and technical professionals critical to shipbuilding.
The collaboration will focus on:
establishing an integrated training hub embedded within Ontario Shipyards’ Hamilton Shipyard
developing industry-led credentials and specialized shipbuilding certifications
supporting apprenticeship and co-op pathways aligned with production requirements
exploring applied research in automation, robotics ad digital manufacturing
Under this framework:
Mohawk College will lead academic programming across skilled trades and technology disciplines including welding, electrical, millwright, marine mechanics, robotics, logistics, and non-destructive evaluation..
Ontario Shipyards will provide facilities and direct workforce integration aligned with its production and expansion plans.
Hanwha Ocean will contribute technical advisory support and access to its global industrial networks to align training with international standards and operational best practices.
Strengthening Ontario’s Role in Canada’s Marine Defence Ecosystem
By integrating industrial modernization with structured workforce development, the partnership aligns with Ontario’s advanced manufacturing strategy and Canada’s broader objective to strengthen sovereign defence industrial capability.
The coordinated framework is expected to:
generate and sustain high-quality skilled employment
expand Ontario-based marine and defence supply chains
increase participation of regional small and medium-sized enterprises
strengthen Canada’s domestic capacity to construct, maintain and sustain complex naval platforms
Over the long term, the initiative is designed to position the Golden Horseshoe and the broader Great Lakes region as a nationally significant hub for advanced marine manufacturing and shipbuilding.
Quotes
“Our objective is not simply to transfer expertise, but to embed Hanwha Ocean’s advanced shipbuilding processes and operational know-how directly into Ontario Shipyard operations. By doing so, we are strengthening Canada’s domestic industrial base, supporting high-quality Canadian jobs, and ensuring long-term workforce readiness. This partnership reflects our commitment to building sustainable submarine construction and sustainment capacity in Canada, fully aligned with the objectives of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.”
Hee-Chul Kim, President and CEO, Hanwha Ocean
“At its core, this partnership is about people. With Hanwha Ocean working alongside our teams and Mohawk College training the next generation in a live shipyard, we are building the Canadian workforce that will deliver and sustain Canadian ships for decades to come. That is how sovereign capacity is created. This partnership activates Ontario’s industrial strength in direct support of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the future of the Royal Canadian Navy and creates meaningful long-term careers for Canadians.”
Shaun Padulo, President and CEO, Ontario Shipyards
“Mohawk College believes in the strength and power of industry-led learning. By working alongside Hanwha Ocean and Ontario Shipyards, we are creating an environment where expertise, innovation, and education come together to support workforce development. This collaboration will strengthen advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding capability in Canada and help build the skilled talent required for long-term success in a rapidly evolving marine sector.”
Paul Armstrong, President, Mohawk College
About Hanwha Ocean (www.HanwhaOcean.com)
Hanwha Ocean is a leading global shipbuilder with more than four decades of experience in complex naval and commercial shipbuilding programs. Supported by its large-scale, integrated shipyard in Geoje, South Korea that spans 5 square kilometres and has more than 31,000 employees, the company combines proven industrial capacity with operational experience to deliver modern, in-service naval platforms backed by a resilient through-life support model.
Since its establishment in 1973, Hanwha Ocean has delivered more than 1,400 vessels worldwide and has built deep expertise in the design, construction, and sustainment of submarines and surface combatants for the Republic of Korea Navy. The company builds approximately 45 commercial and naval ships each year.
About Ontario Shipyards (onshipyards.com)
Ontario Shipyards is the largest Canadian ship repair and shipbuilding company on the Great Lakes, with major shipyards in Hamilton, Port Weller and Thunder Bay. For decades, we have delivered complex vessel life extensions, refits and in-service support for the Canadian Coast Guard and for the commercial fleet that keeps the country’s economy moving. Our job is simple. Keep critical Canadian ships safe, operational and available when they are needed.
We are making the investments to bring continuous large-scale shipbuilding back to Ontario. We are modernizing our facilities, introducing advanced manufacturing and rebuilding the skilled trades and technical workforce this country will need for the next generation of fleets. In doing so, we are activating Ontario, the industrial heartland of Canada, in support of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the Royal Canadian Navy.
About Mohawk College (mohawkcollege.ca)
Mohawk College is a nationally recognized leader in applied research and education. Located in Hamilton, Ontario, the college serves more than 29,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students annually across four main campuses. It offers nearly 200 industry-led programs spanning health, technology, aviation maintenance, skilled trades and climate action, and operates living classrooms embedded within industry partner sites. Since opening in 1967, more than 175,000 students have graduated from Mohawk College.
Noah Note: A significant commitment on the part of Hanwha. Once again, I am overjoyed to see education and training continue to play a focal role in the CPSP discussion. While these agreements are primarily separate from the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, their existence is still closely tied to the project’s continued competition.
I am a bit biased myself, as a former Hamiltonian. I was also honored to be invited out today to witness the signing in person. As someone whose life has been deeply tied to Mohawk, I am as happy as can be to see them succeed through this partnership.
These agreements in themselves are major, and the fact they are separate from a CPSP decision makes them even more tantalizing. Under these new partnerships, not only will we see Mohawk College leveraged as a new source of maritime training on the Great Lakes, but we will also see new activity at Ontario Shipyards.
Sadly, there were no details on full plans or timelines outside of what you see here. There is no financial commitment from Hanwha into Ontario; however, the Ontario government’s financial support through the Ontario Shipbuilding Grant Program (OSGP) will go toward helping Ontario Shipyards modernize their existing facilities.
I'm curious to see what this looks like, and to what extent Korean technology and practices are leveraged by Ontario in their continued modernization. Details are currently scarce, but I imagine we will hear more shortly.
Also announced is Ontario Shipyards' newest project: a 35m Training and Recruitment vessel. This vessel will be privately funded by Ontario Shipyards and serve as a testbed and demonstrator for both their construction capabilities and a potential Orca-class replacement.
This will be designed and constructed with the aid of Hanwha. In what ways? I can't say. Hanwha themselves have no fitting design, so we know it will be new. Hopefully, in the coming weeks and months, we will get some renders—maybe at CANSEC. Either way, it is certainly a leap for Ontario to construct a demonstration vessel; however, given how massive the Orca replacement project looks to be (24–30 ships if the Navy gets what they want), I can see where the idea comes from.
Ultimately, this represents a substantial investment and potentially a significant shift in the shipbuilding sector as we approach NSS Phase II. I am eagerly awaiting more!
This interests me for a tangential non-defense reason: growing up on the shores of lake Ontario, I remember hearing how the lakers (the cargo ships built to fit in the lock system connecting the Great lakes) were horribly inefficient old hulls that were not being replaced because old rules that penalized ships not built in Canada. Now, it's been years (decades? Oh, I feel old...) since I've heard anything about the lakers, but I kind of doubt the problem has gotten dramatically better in the mean time. The Ontario shipyard is probably where most of the lakers were originally built, so I'd be interested to know if they are working up to building new Lakers again ...
"Subject to the award of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), Hanwha Ocean intends to pursue further strategic investment in Ontario, including the establishment of a dedicated shipbuilding training centre and expanded industrial cooperation with Ontario-based suppliers" - isn't this saying that the deal is contingent on winning the CPSP project? Or am I confused?