The christening of training ship State of Maine at Philly Shipyard underscores U.S.–South Korea shipbuilding cooperation, with Hanwha Ocean pledging $5B expansion.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Hanwha Philly Shipyard |
On August 26, 2025, the third National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), State of Maine, was officially christened at Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia. The ceremony was deliberately timed to coincide with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to the United States and his meeting with President Trump, underscoring the growing maritime cooperation between the two nations.
The shipyard, acquired by Hanwha Ocean in late 2024 for roughly $100 million, is now at the center of a major expansion drive. Hanwha has pledged to invest $5 billion in new docks, quays, and block-assembly facilities, aiming to lift output from fewer than two ships a year to as many as 20 vessels annually.
As part of this strategy, Hanwha’s U.S. shipping subsidiary has ordered 10 medium-range oil and chemical tankers, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2029. In addition, Philly Shipyard is preparing to integrate a Korean-built LNG carrier, expected to become the first modern American-flagged LNG carrier constructed at a U.S. yard in over 50 years.
During the event, President Lee referred to the “K-shipbuilding miracle” and pledged that, through the MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again) initiative, the partnership would create a “win-win” revival for both nations’ maritime industries.
The christening of the State of Maine thus served not only as a milestone for U.S. maritime training but also as a symbolic stage for a strengthened U.S.–South Korea shipbuilding alliance.