- Saronic’s Port Alpha facility can be expanded from 835 acres to nearly 4,400 acres
- The yard could eventually build vessels exceeding 1,200 feet in length
- Saronic expects that Port Alpha will create up to 10,000 direct jobs
Saronic has chosen Brownsville, Texas, for ‘Port Alpha’, a planned shipyard designed to produce autonomous vessels on an unprecedented industrial scale.
The project is expected to attract more than $3 billion in private investment and begin construction during 2026.
When operational in 2028, the facility will combine shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, robotics and software development across an 835-hectare site.
Port Alpha aims to rebuild US shipbuilding capacity
The site could eventually expand to nearly 4,400 acres, giving Saronic room to develop one of the largest shipbuilding facilities in the United States.
Its initial production facilities will support vessels up to 850 feet long, while later expansion can accommodate vessels over 1,200 feet.
The Brownsville location includes waterfront access, a deepwater channel and multimodal transportation links necessary for large-scale maritime production.
Saronic selected the site after a year-long search that assessed workforce availability, infrastructure, logistics and future expansion opportunities.
The company expects Port Alpha to create up to 10,000 direct jobs over the next decade, covering welding, machining, robotics, software engineering and naval architecture.
Gov. Greg Abbott said the project could generate approximately $750 million in annual wages once the workforce reaches its projected scale.
“America’s maritime future depends on our ability to rebuild,” said Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas. “Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission.”
Saronic plans to partner with technical colleges, universities and local institutions to develop apprenticeships and training programs that support the facility’s workforce.
The company says the project could generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion across Texas.
Autonomous ships must drive the shipyard’s production model
Port Alpha will not operate as a conventional shipyard, focusing solely on building traditional manned vessels for established naval fleets.
Saronic intends to combine software-defined manufacturing with autonomous maritime systems and large-scale production methods.
The company already operates a growing shipbuilding network, including a facility in Franklin, Louisiana, acquired in early 2025.
Saronic is investing $300 million there to add 300,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity for its 180-foot autonomous Marauder vessel.
The shipping company is known for autonomous ships, including the Corsair and Mirage, while the Marauder competes in the program between unmanned surface vessels.
These systems are part of a broader effort to expand autonomous maritime operations across different mission types.
Saronic says Port Alpha will support production at a scale and speed not seen in U.S. shipbuilding since World War II.
The company has not yet disclosed detailed production numbers, vessel plans or the exact mix of autonomous platforms planned for the facility.
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