Saronic has recently announced the acquisition of Gulf Craft, a Louisiana-based shipbuilder, as part of its strategy to accelerate growth in autonomous shipbuilding. 

Through this acquisition, Saronic secures a strategically located shipyard on the Gulf Coast, which will serve as the prototyping and production hub for its medium unmanned surface vessel (mUSV) fleet, beginning with Marauder–Saronic’s 150-foot Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV).

With over 60 years of experience in delivering traditional manned ships and unmanned vessels for commercial and defence applications, Gulf Craft provides Saronic with the infrastructure and skilled workforce required to develop, rapidly iterate, and scale production of its mUSVs.

Marauder is a 150-foot mUSV, purpose-built to support a broad range of missions for the United States, its allies, and commercial clients. With a payload capacity of 40 metric tonnes, the autonomous vessel is designed to travel up to 3,500 nautical miles or loiter for over 30 days, depending on mission parameters. 

According to the manufacturer, Marauder offers comprehensive capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional manned parameters.

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Marauder is designed to be fully unmanned and integrates the same proven autonomy stack used across Saronic’s existing ASV fleet. The vessel reflects Saronic’s vertically integrated model, disciplined engineering philosophy, and robust domestic supplier network.

The acquisition adds nearly 100 acres to Saronic’s operational footprint, supporting both immediate mUSV development and production while providing capacity for significant expansion. 

Saronic plans to invest more than $250 million directly into the shipyard, enabling major facility upgrades. These improvements will support the company’s first-principles approach to shipbuilding, including infrastructure modernisation, new machinery acquisition, and facility enhancements focused on speed, scalability, and quality. These upgrades will enable Saronic to scale rapidly, with the capacity to deliver up to 50 unmanned vessels annually.

As part of its long-term vision, Saronic aims to invest over $2.5 billion in the development of  Port Alpha–the world’s most advanced shipyard, designed to produce hundreds of unmanned vessels each year.

This strategic expansion aligns with national efforts to revitalise the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base. By investing in next-generation infrastructure, advanced manufacturing methods, and a skilled workforce, Saronic is contributing to the resurgence of a historically crucial industry that underpins American maritime dominance and national security. 

Critically, these efforts represent a meaningful step towards narrowing the shipbuilding gap with China.

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