A recent analysis of the US maritime industry highlights a structural gap between American shipbuilding capacity and leading Asian yards. A clear example: Hanwha’s Philadelphia yard delivers roughly one commercial vessel per year, while a Hanwha yard in South Korea delivers about one per week.
Shipbuilding is again framed as a national-security issue. The US relies on maritime trade but has steadily lost its ability to build its own commercial fleet. High costs (up to ~USD 1 billion for an LNG carrier built domestically versus ~USD 260 million in Asia) and inconsistent industrial policy have pushed orders abroad.
Against the backdrop of supply-chain pressures and geopolitical tensions, the US temporarily relaxed the Jones Act to ease domestic energy transport. Yet the underlying issue remains: without large-scale investment and a stronger skilled workforce, rebuilding shipbuilding autonomy will be slow.
Hanwha’s 2024 acquisition of the Philadelphia yard and its multi‑billion‑dollar investment plan may help, but the current gap underscores the long-term erosion of US industrial capacity.
Versiune română: SUA și construcția navală: decalajul Hanwha dintre Philadelphia și Coreea de Sud