SARONIC CHOOSES BROWNSVILLE OVER GEORGIA FOR SHIPYARD

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

With the City of Brownsville, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and numerous economic development officials jumping over each other to take credit, Abbott  announced Thursday that Saronic Technologies, Inc. will construct a next-generation shipyard, expected to be the largest shipyard in the country, called Port Alpha at the Port of Brownsville for the manufacture of medium- and large-class autonomous and autonomy-capable vessels during a press conference at Saronic’s headquarters in Austin.

“Today marks history with the announcement of the most advanced shipyard in the entire world,” said 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.”

The Port Alpha shipyard and advanced manufacturing facility represents a capital investment of $3,248,000,000 and will create 10,000 new jobs. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $80 million and a $78,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus have been extended to Saronic. The shipyard is also a qualified project under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (IETI) program.

Founded in Austin in 2022, Saronic Technologies combines advanced autonomy software with fast, scalable domestic manufacturing to deliver autonomous maritime systems that extend the reach, capability, and efficiency of defense and commercial fleets.

“America's maritime future depends on our ability to build again,” said Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas. “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."

Saronic chose Texas for this expansion based on workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, land scale, logistics, and expansion potential. Saronic will work with the State of Texas, Cameron County, regional technical colleges, and state university systems to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programs designed to sustain long-term industrial growth and position South Texas as a center of excellence for advanced maritime manufacturing.

“This investment is a defining moment for the Port of Brownsville, Cameron County, the entire Rio Grande Valley, and all of Senate District 27,” said Senator Adam Hinojosa. “Texas has long led the nation in energy, manufacturing, and innovation, and our Gulf Coast will now play a key role in strengthening our industrial base and national security. 

"Building the next generation of autonomous maritime technology in South Texas creates opportunity for our communities while helping ensure the United States remains prepared for future challenges. I appreciate Governor Abbott’s leadership in securing this project, and I thank Saronic for choosing Texas as the home for this significant investment. I look forward to its lasting impact on our region and our nation.”

“We're pleased to welcome Saronic to Cameron County," said Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. “Saronic's investment marks a significant milestone for our county as it expands the shipbuilding industry to South Texas and aims to create 10,000 new jobs. This project will strengthen our local economy by creating new opportunities for working families, supporting small businesses, and driving long-term growth throughout Cameron County and the region."

“Having Saronic in our community is a historic moment for our region and a game changer for our students,” said Point Isabel Independent School District Superintendent Teri Capistran. “Families in the Rio Grande Valley are among the most economically disadvantaged in the state of Texas, but education remains the greatest equalizer that breaks cycles of poverty in families and generations. By partnering with Saronic, our students will now have the unprecedented opportunity to earn advanced degrees, gain cutting edge skills, and secure high-paying careers right here at home.” 

 Saronic selected the port as the home of Port Alpha, a $3.2 billion next-generation shipyard expected to create more than 10,000 direct jobs in the region.

In addition to the thousands of direct jobs created, the shipyard is expected to generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for the State of Texas. Port Alpha will encompass 835 acres, with construction slated to begin in 2026 allowing the project to expand in step with production demand. Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028.

At full build-out, the development is expected to expand to nearly 4,400 acres, and will include a shipyard and manufacturing facility capable of producing vessels up to 850 ft. Future site expansion could support the production of vessels over 1,200 ft. The site provides hundreds of acres of waterfront access, deepwater channel connectivity, multimodal logistics infrastructure, and room for long-term expansion - everything required to anchor a next-generation shipbuilding hub.