Two U.S. lawmakers visited Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia on Feb. 18, marking the first congressional visit since Hanwha Ocean, one of South Korea’s leading shipbuilders, acquired the facility in December 2024. The acquisition was a historic first for a South Korean shipbuilder in the U.S. market. Braving frigid temperatures of minus 8 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit), Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon toured the shipyard, wearing hard hats emblazoned with Hanwha’s logo. Scanlon recalled her first visit to the area in 2018. “The shipyard was very quiet back then,” she said. “This place, once the birthplace of the U.S. Navy and the largest shipyard in the country, is being revitalized thanks to a South Korean company.”
Kelly engaged with workers, speaking directly with welders and assemblers to assess their working conditions. He posed a series of questions: “Where did you work before this?” “How many hours do you work per day?” “What has changed since Hanwha took over?” “How satisfied are you with your job?” One worker, Casey, who previously worked in childcare, said she was now training as a welder and earning significantly more, smiling as she spoke.
A former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, NASA astronaut, and Gulf War veteran, Kelly holds significant influence over U.S. military and aerospace policy. He is among four bipartisan lawmakers who introduced the SHIPS for America Act in December, a bill aimed at expanding the U.S. shipbuilding industry and port infrastructure. The legislation seeks to grow the U.S. commercial fleet from 80 vessels—currently handling just 2% of imported goods—to 250 over the next decade. The measure is designed to bolster national security by ensuring commercial vessels can transport military supplies during crises, amid concerns over China’s dominance in maritime security.
Kelly’s visit to Hanwha Philly Shipyard was part of a field assessment ahead of reintroducing the SHIPS for America Act in the 119th Congress. Lawmakers across party lines have reached a consensus on the urgency of revitalizing the domestic shipbuilding sector and strengthening ties with South Korea. President Donald Trump also underscored the importance of U.S.-South Korea cooperation in shipbuilding during a phone call with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol following his election victory in November last year.
If passed, the legislation is expected to benefit Hanwha Philly Shipyard significantly. Since 2000, the facility has supplied half of all large commercial vessels built in the U.S. “I expect 2025 to be our busiest year yet,” said an employee named Ernest. Another worker, Whittaker, noted that repainting the shipyard’s iconic Goliath crane with Hanwha’s logo was set for completion in the coming months, calling Hanwha Philly Shipyard “Philadelphia’s new landmark.” Currently, only two U.S. shipyards are capable of constructing large commercial vessels: General Dynamics’ facility in California and Hanwha Philly Shipyard. Addressing workers, Kelly said, “We need to build 250 more ships in the next 10 years, which means we may need to hire more people here.” He encouraged the workforce as the U.S. shipbuilding industry prepares for substantial expansion.
