Gov. Josh Shapiro joined South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Dong Kwan Kim and other dignitaries for the christening of the State of Maine, the newest U.S. Department of Transportation National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), at Hanwha Philly Shipyard.
The vessel, designed to serve as both a training ship for cadets and a critical resource in times of national emergency, was formally introduced during a ceremony at the South Philadelphia shipyard last week.
“It was right here that our nation began its journey. And its been here, in this city — in our naval shipyard — that we built the American fleets that protected our freedoms,” Shapiro said at the ceremony. “Today, we are now writing the next chapter in that story.”
The christening comes amid a series of projects underway at Hanwha Philly Shipyard, which has been revitalizing its operations in recent years.
Cadets from the Maine Maritime Academy toured the State of Maine, stepping aboard the vessel that will serve as a floating classroom.
