- Saronic’s Port Alpha facility could expand from 835 acres to nearly 4,400 acres
- The shipyard could eventually build ships over 1,200 feet long
- Saronic expects Port Alpha to create up to 10,000 direct jobs
Saronic chose Brownsville, Texas for “Port Alpha,” a shipyard project designed to produce autonomous ships on an unprecedented industrial scale.
The project is expected to attract more than $3 billion in private investment and begin construction in 2026.
When operational in 2028, the facility will combine shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, robotics and software development on an 835-acre site.
Port Alpha wants to rebuild US shipbuilding capacity
The site could eventually span nearly 4,400 acres, giving Saronic the space to develop one of the largest shipbuilding facilities in the United States.
Its initial production facilities will be able to accommodate vessels up to 850 feet long, while further expansion could accommodate vessels over 1,200 feet.
The Brownsville site includes waterfront access, a deep-water canal and multimodal transportation connections necessary for large-scale maritime manufacturing.
Saronic selected the site after a year-long search that evaluated workforce availability, infrastructure, logistics and opportunities for future expansion.
The company expects Port Alpha to create up to 10,000 direct jobs over the next decade, in welding, machining, robotics, software engineering and naval architecture.
Gov. Greg Abbott said the project could generate about $750 million in annual wages once the workforce reaches projected scale.
“America’s maritime future depends on our ability to rebuild,” said Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic. “Port Alpha is our commitment to this mission.”
Saronic plans to work with local technical colleges, universities and institutions to develop apprenticeship and training programs to support the institution’s workforce.
The company says the project could generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion throughout Texas.
Autonomous ships will drive the shipyard’s production model
Port Alpha will not operate as a conventional shipyard focused solely on building traditional crewed 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 to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity for its 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel.
The company is known for its autonomous ships, including Corsair and Mirage, while Marauder competes in the mid-sized unmanned surface ship program.
These systems are part of a broader effort to expand autonomous maritime operations to different types of missions.
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, ship schedules or the exact combination of autonomous platforms planned for the facility.
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