Canadian shipyards visit Hanwha Ocean to discuss CPSP collaboration, sustainment and MRO opportunities

During an official visit to Hanwha Ocean by the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, representatives from Canada’s major shipyards observed advanced shipbuilding processes and technologies, and engaged in key discussions with one of the world’s leading shipbuilders.

Key representatives from Irving Shipbuilding, Seaspan Shipyards, Davie Shipbuilding, and Ontario Shipyards were keen to explore how collaboration and partnership with Hanwha Ocean could help strengthen domestic shipbuilding capabilities in Canada and maximize industrial and technological benefits across the country as part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).

In addition to touring one of the world’s largest and most advanced shipbuilding facilities — including the active and highly automated production line for the KSS-III submarine — the delegation boarded and toured the completed and in the water KSS-III submarine launched for the Republic of Korea Navy in October 2025, the same submarine platform that Hanwha is proposing for the CPSP.

The visit by representatives from Canada’s four major shipyards was particularly significant in highlighting the potential for local MRO cooperation with Hanwha Ocean, as well as long-term workforce development and skills transfer. Discussions focused on how Canadian shipyards could play a sustained role not only in routine maintenance, but also in more complex submarine sustainment activities over the full life cycle of the fleet, helping to support stable, long-term employment and the development of a highly skilled domestic submarine sustainment workforce.

Hanwha Ocean outlined potential pathways for building Canadian MRO capacity based on its experience sustaining an in-service KSS-III fleet.

This included:

• Structured training and certification programs for Canadian engineers and technicians, supported by joint maintenance and overhaul activities
• Embedding proven production, sustainment, and quality management practices within Canadian shipyards to build durable MRO capability
• Progressive transfer and localization of advanced submarine technologies, including lithium-ion battery systems, air-independent propulsion (AIP), and vertical launch systems (VLS)
• Hands-on technical training covering maintenance procedures, safety standards, and life cycle sustainment for both legacy and next-generation submarine systems
• Long-term industrial cooperation frameworks to support workforce development, knowledge retention, and sustained in-country capability growth

This approach would support the development of a Canadian-centered submarine sustainment ecosystem, enabling domestic shipyards to retain high-value jobs, cultivate specialized MRO expertise, and participate more deeply in global submarine supply and sustainment programs. Over time, such Canadian industrial capabilities could also support export-oriented activities, allowing Canadian partners to contribute to international submarine programs alongside Hanwha Ocean.

The Canadian delegation also visited the Republic of Korea Navy Submarine Force Command base. Here they met with the Korean Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations and other senior submarine officers, and toured an in-service KSS-III submarine as well as the submarine training center and maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility. It is here that Royal Canadian Navy sailors would train alongside the ROK Navy while Canada’s submarines are being constructed and where Canada’s submarines could receive maintenance and support while deployed in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We see the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project as a long-term partnership with Canada’s shipbuilding industry. Hanwha Ocean is committed to supporting collaboration on sustainment, MRO, and skills development, and to embedding proven submarine construction and sustainment capabilities within Canadian shipyards. Through this approach, we aim to help grow domestic industrial capacity and support sovereign, long-term submarine sustainment for the Royal Canadian Navy.”

Charlie SC Eoh, President of Naval Ship Business, Hanwha Ocean

“What they do here at Hanwha Ocean is cutting edge. It is absolutely fantastic. If we can bring just a fraction of that to Canada, as a country we would be a lot further ahead in our shipbuilding endeavors.”

Ted Kirkpatrick, Vice-President of Business Development and Government Relations, Ontario Shipyards

“This visit provided an opportunity to understand our role in maximizing the success of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Program. We believe our learnings and achievements under the National Shipbuilding Strategy should be leveraged as Canada acquires and sustains a new combatant submarine fleet.”

Jean-François Séguin, Vice President, Communications and Government Relations, Irving Shipbuilding

Hanwha Ocean

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 kilometers 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.

Hanwha Group, a Fortune 500 company, with more than 100,000 employees and 91 subsidiaries globally, is the Republic of Korea’s leading business group in the areas of defense, energy & ocean solutions, aerospace & mechatronics, finance, and retail & services.

For more information, visit: www.hanwhaocean.com

KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine

The KSS-III Canadian Patrol Submarine (KSS-III CPS) is South Korea’s latest evolution in conventional submarine technology—indigenously designed and constructed through decades of spiral development of a modern, conventional, ocean-going submarine. Over the last four decades, Hanwha Ocean has continued to evolve a proven MOTS submarine design culminating with the latest batch of the KSS submarine fleet.

Equipped with Lithium-ion batteries and an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, the KSS-III CPS offers the longest submerged endurance among conventional submarines in service – exceeding 7,000 nautical miles. It is outfitted with both a state-of-the-art sonar system and acoustic tiles developed in Korea, offering outstanding target detection capability and advanced stealth performance. The platform is fully optimized for Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Minelaying, and Special Operations Forces (SOF) support.

The KSS-III is recognized as the only proven, in-service submarine platform capable of fully supporting Canada’s ‘Three Ocean Strategy’ — ensuring operational reach, surveillance, and deterrence across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans.

KSS-III is not an export-only model—it is the same class of submarine actively operated by the Republic of Korea Navy in real-world conditions. This ensures Canada will benefit from a proven platform, backed by an established supply chain and validated operational and maintenance data throughout the 30+ years of in-service support (ISS).

The KSS-III is the backbone of the ROK Navy submarine force. Acquisition of the KSS-III would allow Canada to be a member of the international KSS-III User Group which consists of a growing number of nations.

For more information, visit: www.kss-iii.ca

Hanwha Canadian partners

Hanwha Ocean is committed to establishing a robust and long-term presence in Canada that will create jobs and economic growth, accelerate Canada’s domestic defense capabilities, and enhance cooperation and partnership between Canada and South Korea in a variety of strategic industrial areas.

Hanwha has teaming agreements and MOUs in place with more than a dozen Canadian companies, including, Algoma Steel, Babcock Canada, BlackBerry, CAE, Cohere, Curtiss-Wright Indal Technologies, Des Nedhe Group, Gastops, J Squared Technologies, L3Harris Canada, MDA Space ModestTree and PCL Construction, PV Labs and Telesat, and has entered into contracts with two Canadian firms, Modest Tree and Hepburn Engineering.

• The MOU with MDA Space (Brampton, Ontario) is related to aerospace and satellite sectors. 

• The Teaming Agreement with CAE (Montreal, Quebec) is related to integrated training solutions and critical operations support solutions.

• Under the Teaming Agreement, Babcock Canada (Ottawa, Ontario, Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, and Halifax, Nova Scotia) becomes the exclusive In-Service Support partner that will support Hanwha Ocean on CPSP.

• The MOU with BlackBerry (Waterloo, Ontario) is related to their secure communications product portfolio and embedded software solutions.

• The MOU with Curtis-Wright Indal Technologies (Mississauga, Ontario) is related to towed array handling and winch system.

• The MOU with Des Nedhe Group (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is related to economic sustainability.

• The MOU with Gastops (Ottawa, Ontario) is related to propulsion systems machinery control, modelling and simulation.

• The MOU with J Squared Technologies (Ottawa, Ontario) is related to critical capabilities for sea platforms.

• The MOU with L3Harris Canada (Ottawa, Ontario) is related to their integrated platform management system, integrated communications system, steering diving & control system, and other L3Harris maritime capabilities.

• The MOU with Modest Tree (Halifax, Nova Scotia) is related to immersive training and digital in-service support solutions.

• The MOU with PCL Construction (Edmonton, Alberta) is related to construction of infrastructure.

• The MOU with Algoma Steel (Sault Ste Marie, Ontario) is related to investment in facility revitalization and acquisition of steel.

• The MOU with MDA Space (Brampton and Ottawa, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Richmond, British Columbia; Halifax, Nova Scotia) is related to advanced satellite technologies.

• The MOU with Telesat (Ottawa, Ontario) is related to next-generation sovereign satellite connectivity solutions and user terminals.

• The MOU with Cohere (Toronto, Ontario) is related to AI-enabled systems and applications for submarine operations and shipyard processes.

• The MOU with PV Labs (Burlington, Ontario) is related to advanced capabilities for Electro-Optical Tactical Systems.

For more information, visit: www.KSS-III.ca/Canadian-Partners