Canada’s Shipbuilding Heavyweights Look to Korea to Shape the Future of a Canadian Submarine Enterprise

When representatives from Irving Shipbuilding, Seaspan Shipyards, Davie Shipbuilding, and Ontario Shipyards arrived at Hanwha Ocean’s vast shipbuilding complex, they were stepping into one of the world’s most advanced industrial environments—and into conversations that could shape Canada’s submarine enterprise for generations.

Joined by the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, the Canadian delegation toured the South Korean shipbuilder’s state-of-the-art facilities and engaged in detailed discussions on how collaboration under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) could translate into long-term sustainment, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) cooperation, and workforce development inside Canada.

At its core, the visit reflected a shared focus: ensuring that CPSP is not only about acquiring submarines, but about building enduring in-country industrial capability that spans decades of operation, sustainment, and modernization.

“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,” stated Charlie SC Eoh, President of Naval Ship Business, Hanwha Ocean.

Inside One of the World’s Most Advanced Shipbuilding Facilities

Walking through Hanwha Ocean’s expansive production halls, Canadian shipyard leaders observed highly automated construction lines, advanced digital manufacturing processes, and integrated quality-management systems supporting serial submarine production.

Particular attention was paid to the active production line for the KSS-III submarine—an in-service and in-production platform that Hanwha is proposing for Canada. For Canadian participants, the tour provided a firsthand look at how large-scale submarine programs are executed, sustained, and continuously improved over time.

These observations directly informed discussions on how similar practices could be embedded within Canadian shipyards, supporting CPSP’s objective of developing domestic capacity that extends well beyond initial construction.

“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,” expressed Ted Kirkpatrick, Vice-President of Business Development and Government Relations, Ontario Shipyards.

 Touring the KSS-III: From Production Line to Open Water

A central moment of the visit came when the Canadian delegation boarded and toured a completed, in-the-water KSS-III submarine launched for the Republic of Korea Navy in October 2025.

Seeing a proven, operational submarine—rather than a conceptual design—underscored the maturity of the platform and the industrial ecosystem behind it. The delegation explored onboard systems, production quality, and maintainability features, all of which are critical considerations for a fleet expected to serve Canada over several decades.

“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,” said Jean-François Séguin, Vice President, Communications and Government Relations, Irving Shipbuilding.

Building Canadian MRO Capacity from Day One

Discussions between Hanwha Ocean and Canadian shipyards emphasized the opportunity for Canadian industry to play a sustained role in submarine MRO—ranging from routine maintenance to complex deep-level sustainment activities.

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

• 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
• 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 lifecycle 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

Together, these elements would support the emergence of a Canadian-centred submarine sustainment ecosystem—one capable of retaining high-value jobs, cultivating specialized expertise, and enabling Canadian companies to participate more deeply in global submarine supply and sustainment programs.

Over time, such capabilities could also open the door to export-oriented activity, allowing Canadian partners to contribute to international submarine programs alongside Hanwha Ocean.

Training, Operations, and Indo-Pacific Integration

The delegation also visited the Republic of Korea Navy Submarine Force Command base, where they met with the Korean Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations and senior submarine officers.

There, the Canadians toured an in-service KSS-III submarine, a submarine training centre, and an MRO facility. The visit highlighted how Canadian sailors from the Royal Canadian Navy could train alongside their Korean counterparts while Canada’s submarines are under construction—and how Korean facilities could provide maintenance and support for Canadian boats when deployed in the Indo-Pacific region.

The discussions reinforced a broader CPSP vision: a program that integrates acquisition, training, sustainment, and international partnership into a single, coherent enterprise.

A Long-Term Industrial Proposition

For Canada’s shipyards, the visit was not simply about observing best-in-class facilities—it was about defining how Canadian industry can anchor the sustainment backbone of a future submarine fleet.

For Hanwha Ocean, it was an opportunity to demonstrate that its CPSP proposal is built around partnership, technology transfer, and long-term industrial cooperation.

And for Canada, it underscored a fundamental shift in approach: viewing submarines not as one-time procurements, but as multi-decade national industrial programs that can drive skills development, regional economic growth, and sovereign capability.

The conversations in Geoje signal that CPSP is increasingly being shaped not only as a platform choice—but as a nation-building industrial strategy.