Saronic picks Brownsville, Texas, for $3B autonomous shipyard

Published Jul 17, 06:49 PM UTC

Autonomous vessel maker Saronic has chosen Brownsville, Texas, as the site for its $3 billion Port Alpha shipyard, described as the world's most advanced. The 835-acre facility, with potential to expand to 4,400 acres, will build vessels up to 850 feet long, with future capacity for ships over 1,200 feet. Construction begins in 2026, with opening expected in 2028. The project is projected to create 10,000 direct jobs and generate $264.5 billion in economic impact for Texas. The state provided an $80 million grant, and Cameron County approved a 95% tax abatement contingent on local hiring targets. The announcement follows recent combat and rescue missions by Saronic's Corsair drone boats for the U.S. Navy. The shipyard is part of a federal push to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding capacity to compete with China.