Maritime

Defense tech firm Saronic announced a $300 million investment to revamp a Louisiana shipyard into a cutting-edge autonomous vessel manufacturing facility, marking a significant expansion of U.S. maritime production capabilities. The Texas-based company broke ground on the project in November 2025 at the former Gulf Craft shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, approximately 100 miles south of Baton Rouge. The expansion will add more than 300,000 square feet of new production capacity, with construction slated for completion by year-end 2026 and full operational deployment in early 2027. Saronic CEO Dino Mavrookas emphasized the strategic importance: “Our expanded shipyard will enable us to deliver autonomous ships at unprecedented speed and scale while creating 1,500 high-quality jobs across Louisiana.”

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s abrupt cancellation of 16 of 20 planned Constellation-class frigates represents a watershed moment for the defense industrial base, particularly for Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the Wisconsin shipyard that won the initial contract in 2020. Navy Secretary John Phelan announced the decision via social media last week, stating: “From day one I made it clear: I won’t spend a dollar if it doesn’t strengthen readiness or our ability to win.” The announcement follows years of cost overruns and schedule delays on what was initially a $20 billion program.