Korean Yards Win US Navy Overhauls for 43% of Cargo Fleet
Six Lewis and Clark-class supply ships have moved to Korean docks since 2024, shifting maintenance away from West Coast yards as work scopes expand.
HLBy Hyun-jung Lee, Korea correspondent, shipbuilding and defense··Updated October 30, 2026·4 min read
ShareLinkedInXWhatsAppEmailShipyard workers stand in a dry dock before the hull and propeller of a large vessel undergoing maintenance. (AI-generated image)
U.S. defense procurement records confirmed Oct. 30 that South Korean shipyards have secured depot maintenance contracts for six of the U.S. Navy's 14 Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ships.
The awards shift 42.9% of the 41,000-ton auxiliary fleet away from dry docks on the U.S. West Coast. They route heavy maritime sustainment directly into South Korean commercial shipyards under Master Ship Repair Agreements.
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Korea correspondent, shipbuilding and defense — Hyun-jung Lee reports on Korean yards, order books and naval programs, and on the defense export contracts that increasingly sit alongside them.
