General Dynamics NASSCO has entered a new Memorandum of Agreement with two of South Korea’s leading shipbuilders to expand collaboration in advanced vessel design, automated shipyard technologies, and high-efficiency construction methods. The agreement—signed with DSEC and Samsung Heavy Industries—creates a strategic partnership to pursue major opportunities in the US maritime sector, including the Navy’s Next Generation Logistics Ship program and future commercial fleet projects.
NASSCO officials said the initiative deepens a long-standing relationship with South Korean engineering and production specialists, who have supported multiple US shipbuilding efforts over the decades. Based in San Diego, NASSCO has delivered roughly 150 ships since the 1950s and remains a critical supplier to the Pentagon, currently constructing the John Lewis-class fleet oilers and working on design concepts for next-generation submarine tenders.
DSEC brings more than 30 years of support to American shipbuilding, offering expertise in ship design, procurement, quality assurance, logistics, and shipyard consulting. Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, enhances the partnership with its global portfolio of LNG carriers, container ships, drill ships, and offshore production platforms. Their combined capabilities are expected to bolster US industrial capacity through improved automation and streamlined production workflows.
The companies emphasized that this expanded collaboration will enable them to deliver cost-effective, technically advanced vessels tailored for both commercial clients and US defense requirements. By merging NASSCO’s domestic shipbuilding legacy with South Korean innovation, the partnership aims to strengthen American maritime competitiveness in the years ahead.
