Senior U.S. Navy shipbuilding official visits South Korea to assess whether warships could be built there

A senior U.S. Navy official responsible for shipbuilding policy visited South Korean shipyards as Washington considers allowing some U.S. naval vessels to be built abroad.

The delegation, led by Richard Breckenridge, visited facilities operated by Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and SK Oceanplant last week, according to South Korean shipbuilding industry sources. It toured production facilities and examined whether the companies could build ships required by the U.S. Navy.

Breckenridge, a former U.S. Navy vice admiral, now works under the secretary of the Navy on shipbuilding, procurement and the rebuilding of shipyard infrastructure. His visit has prompted industry speculation that the United States is assessing whether South Korean shipyards could directly build some American warships.

The possibility follows steps by the Donald Trump administration to develop a policy allowing overseas construction of U.S. military vessels. A national security presidential memorandum released on the 13th said the vessels eligible for overseas construction would include surface combatants and maritime fuel and cargo ships.