Saronic announces $3B shipyard in Texas for autonomous vessels

Saronic plans to build Port Alpha, a mega-shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, with an investment over $3 billion, aiming to produce large autonomous ships and create up to 10,000 jobs.

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Saronic has announced plans for Port Alpha, a large shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, dedicated to building autonomous and software-defined vessels. The company says the investment will exceed $3 billion.

Construction is scheduled to start in 2026, with operations set to begin in 2028. The initial site covers 853 acres at the Port of Brownsville, though one source cites 835 acres. The facility has room to expand to up to 4,400 acres.

The shipyard will initially handle vessels up to 850 feet long, with future expansion enabling construction of ships over 1,200 feet. Saronic expects Port Alpha to generate up to 10,000 direct jobs over the next decade. The company projects an economic impact of $160 billion for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for Texas during that period.

Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic, said: "Port Alpha is designed to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II."

Saronic selected Brownsville after a year-long nationwide search, citing deepwater channel connectivity and expansion potential. The company also operates a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, acquired in 2025 for $300 million, where it builds Marauder autonomous vessels.