Austal’s planned new assembly building and ship lift. Ships featured in the illustration
“Despite an initial rejection from Austal, South Korean firm Hanwha Ocean’s bid to buy out the Australian shipbuilder has some analysts pondering the benefits of such deal.”
This have anything to do with the US Coast Guard?
The prize of Austal USA, a supplier of U.S. Navy vessels, presumably enters Hanwha’s calculus, even if this subsidiary has relative autonomy from Austal Australia.
Austal won the recompete for the OPC with a contract including options for OPCs #5-15. South Korean shipbuilders are very competitive, so their experience might be beneficial, but so far, no real indication this is going to happen.
Still, it suggests they want an in on US military ship construction. If not Austal, perhaps some other yard.