Hanwha Ocean has signed strategic agreements with Canadian shipyards and an educational institution to enhance Canada’s shipbuilding competitiveness and develop skilled maritime personnel.
On Feb. 18 in Toronto, Hanwha Ocean signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ontario Shipyards for strategic cooperation. The company also signed a separate letter of intent (LOI) with Ontario Shipyards and Mohawk College to pursue trilateral collaboration.
Several Canadian Members of Parliament attended the ceremony, expressing support for strengthening shipbuilding and naval industry cooperation between the two countries.
Under the MOU, Hanwha Ocean will provide advanced expertise to Ontario Shipyards, including design and engineering advisory services, production planning and process management, quality control systems, and the introduction of smart shipyard technologies. The collaboration aims to gradually restore Ontario’s large-scale shipbuilding capabilities and reinforce Canada’s long-term naval industrial base.
The two sides also plan to expand cooperation with a focus on upcoming naval programs, including the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). Hanwha Ocean intends to participate from the design phase of shipbuilding projects set to begin this year, demonstrating next-generation shipbuilding capabilities.
In addition, Hanwha Ocean will work with Ontario Shipyards and Mohawk College to establish a shipbuilding workforce development hub within the shipyard. Linked to shipyard expansion and modernization plans over the next 10 to 15 years, the initiative will focus on training skilled workers in welding, fabrication, marine machinery, electrical systems, robotics and non-destructive testing.
The three parties plan to gradually implement joint initiatives, including the establishment of an integrated on-site training campus, development of industry-oriented advanced curricula, workforce training systems aligned with production expansion plans, and applied research using emerging technologies such as virtual reality, robotics and digital twins.
If Hanwha Ocean secures the CPSP contract, the company plans to pursue additional strategic investments in Ontario, including the establishment of a specialized shipbuilding education and training center and expanded collaboration with local enterprises. The goal is to develop the Great Lakes region into a defense shipbuilding hub and position Canada as an advanced maritime manufacturing center.
Sean Padulo, CEO of Ontario Shipyards, said the partnership will enable the introduction of world-class shipbuilding expertise and proven production systems, accelerating efforts to rebuild shipbuilding capacity, create high-quality jobs and strengthen Canada’s maritime and defense industries.
Kim Hee-cheul, CEO of Hanwha Ocean, said the agreement marks a starting point for deeper cooperation between the companies and the two nations. He added that beyond technology transfer, the company aims to localize advanced shipbuilding processes and operational know-how to support future Canadian naval programs such as the CPSP.
