Saronic Technologies has selected the Port of Brownsville, Texas, as the site of Port Alpha, a new shipyard focused on building commercial and military vessels with varying levels of automation.
The project calls for an estimated investment of $3.2 billion and will initially occupy an area of 835 acres, equivalent to approximately 338 hectares, in Cameron County. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, while the first industrial facility is scheduled to be ready to start production in 2028.
According to Saronic CEO Dino Mavrookas, the complex could create up to 10,000 jobs over the next ten years. However, the forecast depends on the completion of the project’s different phases and the gradual expansion of production capacity.
Shipyard could build vessels up to 259 meters long
During its first phase, Port Alpha is expected to have the capacity to build vessels up to 850 feet long, approximately 259 meters. This size is close to that of large military vessels, such as the Wasp-class amphibious assault ships operated by the United States Navy.
Saronic has not yet disclosed which specific vessel classes will be produced in Texas. Concept images released by the company show large vessels being assembled across an extensive waterfront area.
One of the illustrations depicts a vessel with dimensions similar to those of the San Antonio class, as well as a bulbous bow and a modular area amidships. Because it is an artistic rendering, the design should not be interpreted as the final configuration of a future vessel.
The selected site is located at the Port of Brownsville, an area that already accounts for a significant share of the US ship dismantling and recycling industry. Access to the sea, existing port infrastructure, and available room for expansion were important factors in the decision to establish the facility there.
Site could expand to 4,000 acres
According to Mavrookas, the project could eventually expand to an area of up to 4,000 acres, or about 1,619 hectares. If the expansion is fully completed, the complex could become the largest shipyard in the United States and one of the largest in the world.
For now, that scale remains a long-term possibility. The first phase will remain focused on the 835 acres planned for the start of operations.
The announcement came after Cameron County commissioners approved a 95% tax abatement for the project, expected to remain in effect for 19 years. The incentive is tied to the estimated $3.2 billion investment and expectations that the project will create jobs in the region.
Vessels could gradually receive autonomous capabilities
Saronic’s proposal is not simply to reproduce the types of vessels currently built in the United States. The company intends to incorporate digital systems, modular architecture, and autonomous navigation technologies into its new designs.
This does not mean that every vessel will leave the shipyard completely uncrewed. According to the executive, the first ships may continue to carry crews, while additional automation functions are gradually incorporated.
The strategy could reduce human involvement in repetitive and logistical tasks or in operations conducted in higher-risk environments. Fully autonomous operation will depend on technological development, each customer’s requirements, and regulatory approvals.
Port Alpha will be Saronic’s third facility
The Brownsville shipyard will be the company’s third major industrial facility. Saronic already operates a factory in central Texas dedicated to producing smaller autonomous vessels, such as the 25-foot Corsair, which measures approximately 7.6 meters.
The company also acquired the former Gulf Craft shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana. The facility is used to build the Marauder, a medium-sized autonomous surface vehicle developed for commercial, logistics, and defense missions.
The Marauder is 180 feet long, or about 55 meters, and was designed from the outset to operate with autonomous systems. According to data released by Saronic, the vessel can carry up to 150 metric tons in standardized containers.
The model is also said to have a range of up to 5,400 nautical miles, approximately 10,000 kilometers, and a cruising speed of more than 25 knots, equivalent to over 46 km/h. These figures will still need to be confirmed during the different stages of testing and validation at sea.
+ Watch the video of the Marauder during sea trials
Company expands its presence in the US maritime sector
Saronic began as a venture capital-backed company and initially focused its activities on small autonomous vessels. Since then, it has begun competing for larger contracts and expanding its presence in the defense market.
According to USNI News, the United States Navy has already purchased approximately $350 million worth of small vessels produced by the company. Saronic has also submitted a design for the US medium unmanned surface vehicle program.
The publication also reported that three Corsair vessels had recently taken part in an operation against Iranian naval facilities in Bandar Abbas. Detailed operational information about how the vehicles were employed has not been publicly disclosed by the company.
The construction of Port Alpha demonstrates how Saronic intends to move from small autonomous platforms to the production of large vessels. However, the project’s success will depend on meeting the schedule, obtaining permits, recruiting specialized workers, and transforming autonomous prototypes into a large-scale naval production line.
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Source and images: USNI News and Saronic Technologies. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
