HJ Shipbuilding Completes USNS Amelia Earhart MRO

USNS Amelia Earhart (provided by HJ Shipbuilding & Construction)  Navy Expanded Work Scope After Additional Defects Were Found During Repairs HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said it has completed all work on the USNS Amelia Earhart, its first U.S. Navy maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO, project won earlier this year, and has sent the vessel back into service. The development is drawing attention across the industry because the company became the first mid-sized Korean shipbuilder to complete a project while meeting the U.S. Navy’s stringent maintenance requirements. The USNS Amelia Earhart, the subject of the project, is a key naval asset measuring 210 meters in length and 32 meters in width that supplies ammunition, food and fuel to U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and combat vessels. After signing a contract in December last year with the Naval Supply Systems Command and Military Sealift Command, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction carried out wide-ranging MRO work on the vessel, which entered port in January, including hull inspections, system maintenance and parts replacement. During the maintenance process, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction demonstrated technical capabilities that went beyond simple contract execution. Although not included in the scope originally agreed under the contract, the company first proposed improvement measures for additional defects discovered during the work. The U.S. Navy accepted the proposals and significantly expanded the maintenance scope, and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction completed all processes within the scheduled timeline despite the increased workload. As the maintenance work expanded to the level of maximizing the vessel’s performance, the size of the project also grew. The construction period was extended by about six months from the period originally scheduled from April to October, and the contract amount increased accordingly, producing positive results in terms of both sales and profitability. A U.S. Navy official expressed satisfaction with the completeness of the vessel after maintenance was finished and conveyed appreciation. Yu Sang-cheol, chief executive of HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, said the company devoted itself to the maintenance work while closely consulting with the U.S. Navy despite frequent schedule changes and the expansion of the work scope, adding that it would use this achievement as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperative ties with the U.S. Navy and pursue follow-on orders.