Saronic has selected Brownsville, Texas as the site for Port Alpha, a $3bn “next-generation” shipyard intended to strengthen US shipbuilding.
The announcement, made on 16 July, moves Port Alpha from concept to a planned large-scale facility, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026.
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The company expects to open the shipyard for operations in 2028.
Port Alpha will be situated on 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with potential expansion to nearly 4,400 acres, according to Saronic.
The facility is designed to manufacture vessels up to 850 feet (ft) in length, with future site expansion aimed at supporting the construction of ships exceeding 1,200ft.
Saronic said the location was chosen following a year-long, nationwide evaluation process, with Brownsville selected based on criteria including infrastructure readiness, workforce potential, land availability, logistics, and long-term growth opportunities.
The company projects the shipyard will generate over $160bn in economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5bn for the state of Texas during its operational lifetime.
Up to 10,000 direct jobs are expected to be created, spread across skilled trades and advanced fields such as robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture.
Texas governor Greg Abbott welcomed the announcement calling the future Port Alpha as the “most advanced” shipyard.
Governor Greg Abbott said: “When this shipyard gets fully built out, there will be about 10,000 employees. Saronic is going to be providing about $750 million in annual paychecks to Texans. That’s game-changing for the population of Texas. As Governor, I’m proud that Saronic calls Texas home.”
Saronic described Port Alpha as a “new model” for American shipbuilding, integrating advanced manufacturing, software-defined production, and autonomous systems at a scale not previously seen.
To support this approach, the company is forming partnerships with established manufacturers, technology firms specialising in shipbuilding, and key suppliers, with the aim of continually incorporating new capabilities into Port Alpha’s production framework alongside Saronic’s own expertise.
Additionally, Saronic will work with the State of Texas, Cameron County, and local educational institutions to develop training and apprenticeship programs focused on advanced maritime manufacturing.
Port Alpha will “restore” American maritime strength and substantially expand national shipbuilding capacity, it said.
Saronic co-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas said: “Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission. Built from the ground up to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II, this investment is about more than constructing a shipyard. It is about rebuilding the industrial capacity, workforce, and manufacturing advantage required to ensure American maritime leadership for decades to come.”
Port Alpha builds on Saronic’s existing investments, including its acquisition of a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana in early 2025.
The company is investing $300m to grow that facility’s capacity, where its 180ft Marauder autonomous vessel is produced.
Saronic is among seven companies chosen by the US Department of the Navy to participate in the at-sea testing phase of its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) Family of Systems programme.
