Saronic has selected Brownsville, Texas, as the location for Port Alpha, a next-generation shipyard that is expected to expand US shipbuilding capacity and support the production of autonomous maritime systems.
The project represents a planned investment of more than USD$3 billion and marks the transition of Port Alpha from concept to construction. Saronic said the facility is designed to support software-defined shipbuilding while increasing domestic production capacity for commercial and defence vessels.
Construction of Port Alpha is expected to begin in 2026, with operations scheduled to commence in 2028.
According to Saronic, the project is expected to generate more than USD$160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and USD$264.5 billion for the State of Texas. The company also expects the development to create up to 10,000 direct jobs, making it one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history.
Brownsville was selected after a year-long evaluation of potential locations across the East, West and Gulf coasts.
The initial development will occupy 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with the potential to expand to nearly 4,400 acres. The shipyard and manufacturing facility will be capable of producing vessels up to 850 feet in length, with future expansion allowing production of vessels exceeding 1,200 feet.
Saronic said the site was chosen based on workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, logistics, land availability and long-term expansion potential. The location also provides waterfront access, deepwater channel connectivity and multimodal transport infrastructure.
Over the next decade, Port Alpha is expected to create employment opportunities across skilled trades, including welding and machining, as well as roles in robotics, software engineering and naval architecture.
Saronic said it will work with the State of Texas, Cameron County and local educational institutions to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programmes designed to support long-term industrial growth and strengthen advanced maritime manufacturing capabilities.
“America’s maritime future depends on our ability to build again,” said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Saronic. “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. The state of Texas and city of Brownsville give us the foundation to turn that vision into reality.”
Port Alpha will build on Saronic’s existing shipbuilding operations. In early 2025, the company acquired a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, where it is investing USD$300 million to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity.
That facility will continue manufacturing Saronic’s 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel, while Port Alpha is expected to expand the company’s overall shipbuilding capabilities through advanced manufacturing technologies, software-defined production and autonomous maritime systems.
The company said it is also developing partnerships with manufacturers, shipbuilding technology providers and suppliers to support the long-term development of the new facility.
State Support For The Project
Governor Abbott welcomed the investment, highlighting its expected economic impact on Texas.
“Today marks history with the announcement of the most advanced shipyard in the entire world,” said Governor Abbott. “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 said it will continue working with federal, state and local partners as construction progresses to establish the industrial capability required to support the next generation of US maritime manufacturing.
