Hanwha Philly Shipyard Won Missile Vessel Contract

TOTE Services will manage construction of a new vessel for the Maritime Administration at the Philadelphia shipyard.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Construction

Isometric editorial illustration showing a large steel ship hull section under construction within a shipyard gantry, representing maritime procurement. — TOTE Services has secured a contract with the U.S. Maritime Administration to manage construction of a new Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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TOTE Services has signed a contract with the Maritime Administration to manage construction of a new Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel. The project will be built at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia.

Why it matters

The Missile Defense Agency requires these vessels to advance national security objectives. Using a specialized construction management model aims to reduce acquisition costs by at least 50% compared to traditional methods.

The new ship design shares 70% commonality with National Security Multi-Mission Vessels to streamline production. The Hanwha Philly Shipyard currently maintains a workforce of more than 2,000 production employees.

The players

TOTE Services

This company provides vessel management and maritime logistics solutions for commercial and government clients.

Maritime Administration

This is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that oversees the development and maintenance of the U.S. merchant marine.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard

This is a prominent shipbuilding facility located in Philadelphia that specializes in constructing large commercial and government vessels.

Missile Defense Agency

This is a research and development agency within the U.S. Department of Defense that develops missile defense systems for the nation.

The details

Hanwha Philly Shipyard will utilize its existing NSMV production line and supply chain to build the ship, which is intended to replace the aging Pacific Tracker and Pacific Collector. TOTE Services will manage the project requirements and change orders to maintain schedule certainty.

The Pacific Tracker was built in 1965.
The Pacific Collector was built in 1970.
The construction management contract and shipyard subcontract were executed on October 7, 2026.
Delivery of the first Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel is scheduled for 2030.

Market Landscape

This project leverages the supply chain and production infrastructure established by the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel program. By utilizing existing shipyard capabilities, the initiative marks a shift toward standardized construction models to gain market efficiency.

The project ensures continued operation at the local shipyard, maintaining over 2,000 production jobs in Philadelphia. For the general public, this investment supports long-term national security infrastructure rather than impacting consumer retail prices.

The takeaway

The move to standardize vessel design shows how the defense industry is prioritizing manufacturing efficiencies to manage costs. This approach effectively replaces decades-old technology with modern, streamlined platforms.