Hanwha Ocean Partners with Irving Shipbuilding and Nova Scotia Government

Hanwha Ocean is partnering with the government of Nova Scotia and Irving Shipbuilding to pursue Canada’s $40 billion submarine program and establish a local industrial and maintenance base.

Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul visited the provincial capital of Halifax, where he met with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and other officials on April 14, 2026, to discuss industrial and defense cooperation.

The discussions centered on Canada’s efforts to modernize its defense capabilities. Key areas of focus included strengthening readiness, securing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and the development of a local workforce to support a domestic industrial base.

Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

As part of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, Hanwha Ocean outlined a long-term strategy for lifecycle support and industrial participation. The company reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its operations and role within Canada.

CEO Kim Hee-cheul also held meetings with Dirk Lesko, the president of Irving Shipbuilding, to explore cooperation aimed at strengthening the submarine capabilities of the Royal Canadian Navy.

The parties agreed on the necessity of building a submarine maintenance industry led by Canada. This initiative is intended to achieve several economic and industrial goals, including:

• The creation of new jobs and the training of skilled workers.
• The stabilization of supply chains.
• The expansion of participation from small businesses.
• The reinforcement of the domestic industrial ecosystem.

Local Industrial Partnerships

The partnership involves Irving Shipbuilding, which is Canada’s largest shipyard. An affiliate of Irving Shipbuilding, Fleetway Inc., has served as a strategic partner for sovereign Canadian naval sustainment for 40 years.

Hanwha Ocean’s strategy focuses on strengthening these local partnerships to improve its position in winning the submarine contract. The collaboration is designed to ensure that the sustainment and maintenance of the fleet are handled through a robust local infrastructure.