Hanwha Ocean, a major South Korean shipbuilder and defense contractor, has ramped up its efforts to secure a pivotal role in Canada’s next-generation submarine project, known as the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). Over the past week, the company’s leadership has engaged in a series of high-profile meetings and forged new alliances with both government officials and industry leaders across Nova Scotia, signaling a strategic push to embed itself deeply within Canada’s defense modernization plans.
On April 14 and 15, 2026, Hanwha Ocean’s CEO Kim Hee-chul visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he met with Premier Tim Houston and other key provincial government officials. According to GJTline and GN News, the discussions focused on a broad spectrum of cooperation, including strengthening defense readiness, establishing robust maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) systems, nurturing a skilled local workforce, and building a resilient industrial ecosystem to support the submarine program. The meetings underscored a shared commitment to aligning with Canada’s defense modernization policies and ensuring that any future submarine fleet would be supported by a sustainable, Canadian-led operational framework.
During these talks, Hanwha Ocean made it clear that its ambitions reach far beyond simply supplying hardware. The company proposed long-term strategies for industrial participation and maintenance, promising to contribute to the Canadian economy by investing in local capabilities and infrastructure. As Kim Hee-chul emphasized, “Rapid deployment, stable MRO systems, industrial base strengthening, technology transfer, and job creation are key evaluation criteria for the Canadian submarine project, and Hanwha Ocean aims to build a sustainable Canadian-centered submarine operation ecosystem through close cooperation with government and industry.” (GJTline)
One of the highlights of the visit was a meeting between Hanwha Ocean’s CEO and Dirk Lesko, president of Irving Shipbuilding—the country’s largest shipyard and a cornerstone of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Irving Shipbuilding boasts extensive experience in naval construction and maintenance, with a vast domestic supply chain and involvement in major projects such as Arctic and coastal patrol ships and Halifax-class frigate MRO. The synergy between Hanwha Ocean’s world-class design and construction technology and Irving’s established local production and supply chain is expected to be a game-changer for the CPSP.
Both parties discussed the potential for cooperation in submarine maintenance, supply chain development, and workforce training. According to GN News, the discussions also touched on sustainable job creation, expanding small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) participation, and strengthening the domestic industrial ecosystem—a set of priorities closely aligned with Canadian government policy. Kim Hee-chul noted, “The cooperation aims to create sustainable employment, develop skilled workforce, establish stable supply chains, expand SME participation, and strengthen the domestic industrial ecosystem prioritized by the Canadian government.”
Nova Scotia itself is widely regarded as an ideal region for shipbuilding and long-term MRO activities, thanks to its robust industrial base and competitive edge in advanced sectors such as aerospace, offshore wind power, and artificial intelligence. This regional strength adds further weight to Hanwha Ocean’s bid, as the company positions itself as a partner who not only delivers submarines but also helps build the infrastructure and expertise needed to maintain them for decades to come.
Hanwha Ocean’s strategy also involves building a comprehensive local supply chain by partnering with Canadian firms. The company has expanded cooperation with Modest Tree, GeoSpectrum Technologies, and Ultra Maritime, aiming to integrate these companies into the global submarine supply network. Recently, Hanwha Ocean signed a strategic agreement with PCL, Canada’s largest construction company, to accelerate supply chain development ahead of the CPSP bidding process. These partnerships, as reported by GJTline and GN News, are intended to ensure that Canadian industry benefits directly from any future submarine contracts, while also meeting Canada’s requirements for industrial and technological benefits (ITB) and offset obligations.
In a further move to solidify its Canadian alliances, Hanwha Ocean signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 14 with AtkinsRéalis, a Montreal-based engineering powerhouse with a storied history in nuclear, energy, and defense projects. According to The Guru, the partnership will see both companies collaborate on designing and constructing infrastructure throughout the submarine lifecycle, establishing the necessary industrial bases for production, and exploring strategic opportunities in nuclear power, energy generation, and defense. AtkinsRéalis brings deep expertise in complex systems and lifecycle support, having worked with Rolls-Royce Submarines for 27 years on UK nuclear submarine propulsion systems and maintained partnerships with Mott MacDonald and Babcock International on submarine maintenance and refueling.
Jung Seung-gyun, Hanwha Ocean’s Vice President, highlighted the significance of the alliance: “AtkinsRéalis has extensive experience in complex systems and lifecycle support, and the joint effort will establish a foundation for continuous value creation in submarine capability enhancement, Canadian industrial capacity development, and long-term support.” This cooperation is also expected to help Hanwha Ocean respond effectively to Canadian offset requirements, further boosting its competitiveness in the CPSP bidding process.
AtkinsRéalis is no stranger to advanced technology adoption, having pursued projects such as AI factory establishment with Nvidia based on nuclear power. The company’s original technology for Canada’s CANDU nuclear reactors and its expertise in energy storage and hydrogen infrastructure add another layer of capability to the Hanwha-led alliance.
As the competition for the CPSP heats up, Hanwha Ocean’s approach stands out for its depth and breadth. Rather than simply marketing submarines, the company is weaving itself into the fabric of Canadian industry and government, aiming to build a truly sustainable ecosystem for submarine operation and maintenance. The combined strengths of Hanwha Ocean, Irving Shipbuilding, AtkinsRéalis, and a growing roster of Canadian partners could well tip the scales in Hanwha’s favor as the Canadian government weighs its options for modernizing its submarine fleet.
With an eye firmly on the future, Hanwha Ocean’s recent flurry of activity—government meetings, industrial partnerships, and strategic MOUs—signals a new phase in the CPSP competition. The company’s holistic strategy, blending technology transfer, local job creation, and long-term industrial investment, is designed to meet Canada’s stringent requirements and position Hanwha as a trusted partner for decades to come.
In the high-stakes world of defense procurement, it’s not just about who can build the best submarine, but who can build the best future for Canadian industry and security. Hanwha Ocean, through its recent moves, is making a compelling case that it can do both.