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Steel-cutting ceremony marks start of construction for Korea's second combat support ship

Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 17:44

The logo of Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean shows at its office building in Seoul on October 15, 2025. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The steel-cutting ceremony for the country's second auxiliary oil, ammunition and equipment (AOE-II) ship took place at a shipyard of Hanwha Ocean in Geoje, South Gyeongsang, on Wednesday to mark the start of the construction of a naval combat support ship, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a release.

The second AOE program, worth 531.5 billion won ($360 million), was launched in 2024 to build a follow-on vessel to the 10,000-ton logistics support ship Soyang, which was commissioned in 2018.

The new vessel is designed to support a domestically developed engineering control system that manages propulsion, electrical power and auxiliary equipment through a single network to enhance safety.

An upgraded video surveillance system will be installed to automatically detect emergencies, such as fires or falls, according to DAPA.

The new ship is also expected to provide improved crew accommodations and safety, with noise-reduction features offering a more comfortable onboard environment, it said.

The launch of construction is expected to help expand future opportunities for Korean shipbuilding, including in maintenance, repair and overhaul projects, the agency added.

Yonhap