Hanwha Ocean hires local defense expert for Canadian submarine project

Hanwha Ocean is stepping up its on-the-ground push to secure Canada’s patrol submarine program by appointing a seasoned local defense expert to lead its Canadian subsidiary, as it targets a project valued at up to 60 trillion won ($40.9 billion).

On Wednesday, Hanwha Ocean said it has named Glenn Copeland as head of its Canadian unit to support its bid for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). The South Korean company has already established a local subsidiary and plans to intensify outreach and lobbying efforts in Ottawa under Copeland’s leadership.

Copeland is a former officer of the Canadian Navy, where he served for 22 years in roles including operations and tactics officer and deputy commander of a patrol vessel before retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He later worked at Lockheed Martin Canada, overseeing the Halifax Class patrol frigate modernization program.

He also served as head of a regional defense industry association in Nova Scotia, building extensive experience in negotiations and cooperation with provincial governments. Hanwha Ocean said it expects Copeland’s military background and local network to strengthen its capabilities in industrial and technological benefits (ITB) proposals, a key component of the CPSP.

Beyond submarine construction, Hanwha Ocean is enhancing its CPSP competitiveness by offering a broader industrial cooperation package spanning energy and engineering. ITB refers to trade arrangements in which arms suppliers provide countervailing benefits such as technology transfer, component exports or local investment to the purchasing country.

As part of this effort, Hanwha Ocean recently signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Fermeuse Energy to jointly advance a liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project in Newfoundland and Labrador. Under the agreement, Hanwha Ocean will participate from the early development stage, including conceptual design, as a long-term strategic partner.

The company plans to provide integrated capabilities across the LNG value chain, covering engineering, financing, shipbuilding and LNG logistics. Hanwha Ocean said the LNG collaboration will be linked to CPSP-related ITB commitments as part of a mid- to long-term strategy to help strengthen Canada’s domestic industrial base.