U.S. TOTE Services Selects Hanwha to Build Medium Landing Ship

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 29, U.S. maritime services company TOTE Services announced that it has selected Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA) as the first shipyard under its Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) model for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program, to build one LSM at Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard (HPSI) for a contract value of $269 million, with options for three additional ships of the same type. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027, with the lead ship expected to be delivered in 2030.

The VCM model is the first contract structure of its kind used in U.S. Navy ship procurement, and this award marks the first shipyard selection under the model. TOTE Services was awarded a $2.2 billion VCM contract by the Navy in July 2026, under which it serves as prime contractor with direct contractual oversight responsibility for the construction and delivery of the LSM program. TOTE subsequently issued a request for proposals, and Hanwha was selected based on competitive pricing and its acceptance of TOTE's subcontract terms and conditions. TOTE's VCM contract covers a base contract for up to eight LSMs, supporting the Navy and Marine Corps' planned fleet of 35 LSMs.

The technical specifications and design source of the LSM have been clarified in the project documents. The ship is based on the Dutch Damen LST-100 design, with a length of 100 meters, a beam of 16 meters, a light displacement of approximately 2,687 tons, and a cruising range of approximately 7,400 kilometers. The U.S. Navy purchased the design package for $17 million. The LST-100 is currently in service with the Nigerian Navy, and the Royal Australian Navy also plans to adopt it. The LSM is positioned as an expeditionary warfare vessel for transporting and deploying Marine Corps personnel, equipment, and supplies in contested coastal areas, supporting distributed operations by the Marine Corps across the Indo-Pacific island chains.

The LSM program adopts a multi-shipyard construction arrangement, with Hanwha being the first shipyard selected, not the only one. Before TOTE was selected as VCM, the Navy had awarded the first LSM to Bollinger Shipyards and awarded a long-lead materials contract for four ships to Fincantieri Marinette Marine. TOTE stated that it is engaged in "productive contract discussions" with both shipyards, and both are expected to continue to play an important role in the construction of the LSM fleet.