Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has officially established its first research hub in the United States, marking a significant step into the American shipbuilding market.
On March 13, 2026, SHI opened the 'Samsung Heavy Industries–SDSU Advanced Marine Center' (SSAM Center) in San Diego. This center isn't just a symbolic move; it's a strategic beachhead located right next to General Dynamics NASSCO, the only major full-service shipyard on the U.S. West Coast. Its core mission is to co-develop cutting-edge technologies like AI-based production automation, robotics, and “green” ship technologies.
So, why is this happening now? There are two powerful forces at play. First is the immense and consistent demand from NASSCO. The shipyard has a massive, multi-year pipeline of work building auxiliary ships for the U.S. Navy. This high utilization rate creates a pressing need for the kind of automation and advanced manufacturing processes that SHI excels at. Simply put, NASSCO needs to build ships more efficiently, and SHI has the technology to help.
Second, a major regulatory shift is providing a strong tailwind. Starting in 2026, the European Union's Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) will fully cover the maritime sector. This, along with other rules like FuelEU Maritime, significantly raises the cost of operating less efficient, carbon-intensive ships. This financial pressure is forcing the global shipping industry to rapidly adopt the exact kind of low-carbon and high-efficiency technologies the SSAM Center aims to develop.
This collaboration didn't appear overnight. It's the logical next step after a key agreement signed in December 2025. SHI, NASSCO, and another Korean firm, DSEC, signed a memorandum of agreement to cooperate on U.S. ship design and manufacturing automation. The SSAM Center will now serve as the R&D engine to feed this partnership, which is built on a long and successful history of collaboration between DSEC and NASSCO since 2006. This isn't a risky new venture but an expansion of a proven alliance, governed by the long-standing Jones Act which encourages such international partnerships for domestic shipbuilding.
- EU ETS (Emissions Trading System): A 'cap and trade' system where a limit (cap) is set on greenhouse gas emissions. Companies can buy or sell emission allowances, creating a financial incentive to reduce pollution.
- Jones Act: A U.S. federal law that requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned, and operated by United States citizens or permanent residents.