Saronic Commences Construction of New Texas Shipyard This Year

Washington, D.C. — Maritime technology company Saronic announced today its intention to build a new shipyard in Brownville, Texas, named Port Alpha, aimed at expanding its shipbuilding capacity.

The company plans to initially develop approximately 800 acres, with the possibility of expanding to a total of 4,000 acres, constructing an entirely new shipyard from the ground up, as stated by Saronic co‑founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas.

This approach enables us to implement advanced manufacturing techniques, streamline processes for higher throughput, leverage economies of scale, and reduce costs throughout the shipbuilding process, Mavrookas told reporters on Wednesday.

The shipyard will specialize in both defense and commercial vessels, initially constructing ships up to 850 feet in length, with the long‑term objective of building vessels up to 1,200 feet. It will also support the construction of both manned and unmanned ships.

While we will not disclose details about our forthcoming product line, we intend to build both manned and unmanned ships, Mavrookas explained. “The manned vessels will feature differentiated technology to improve efficiency, and we plan to transition them to unmanned operation as the technology evolves,” he added.

Saronic plans to create 10,000 jobs at Port Alpha over the next ten years, spanning roles such as welding, machining, robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture. The company will collaborate with state, county, and local education authorities to develop training pipelines for the workforce.

The firm is ready to commence construction of Port Alpha later this year and anticipates beginning operations in 2028.

Saronic presently manufactures a range of autonomous surface vessels at its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard, including the Corsair, which U.S. forces have been using in Middle East operations. For instance, several Corsair vessels attacked a submarine and a ship maintenance facility in Iran on Sunday, representing the first combat deployment of American unmanned surface vessels, according to U.S. Central Command.

Mavrookas clarified that the new shipyard plans are unrelated to recent Middle East operations and that the announcement follows shortly after the completion of a separate deal.

Mavrookas emphasized that the company aims to begin work promptly, not holding back an announcement until a later date. “The success of the Corsair in the Strait of Hormuz, showcasing its capabilities just before this announcement, underscores our readiness,” he said.

Source link