A second U.S. Navy support ship, USNS Cesar Chavez, will be overhauled by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI).
The South Korean firm completed its first U.S. Navy Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) project on supply ship USNS Alan Shepard at its Ulsan shipyard in December.
Now, as per an HD HHI press statement, the firm has been awarded a new MRO contract to renew USNS Cesar Chavez, part of U.S. 7th Fleet. The 210-metre, 41,000-ton logistics support vessel, which supplies U.S. Navy warships with dry cargo and ammunition, has been in service since 2012.
Work on overhauling the USNS Cesar Chavez is scheduled to begin this month and be completed in March. At present about 100 separate tasks have been identified, involving elements of the hull, structure, propulsion, electrical, and auxiliary systems. As with the first vessel, more may be identified during the overhaul programme.
As per the firm’s social media post: “This consecutive award is more than just another contract win — it reflects the U.S. Navy’s trust in Korean shipbuilding capabilities and highlights HHI’s ability to meet the Navy’s strict technical, quality, and schedule requirements.”
- You can read more details on the HD HHI website