Saronic acquires Luisana shipyard, unveils next-gen ASV

US tech company Saronic has decided to acquire Gulf Craft, a Louisiana-based shipbuilder, to accelerate its growth into autonomous shipbuilding. The shipyard will serve as the prototyping and production hub for its medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) fleet, starting with Marauder, Saronic’s new autonomous surface vessel (ASV).

As disclosed, Marauder is a 45.7-meter MUSV purpose-built to support a wide range of missions for the US and its allies. With a payload capacity of 40 metric tons, the autonomous ship is designed to travel up to 3,500 nautical miles or loiter for 30+ days, depending on mission requirements. 

Furthermore, the vessel is designed to be fully unmanned and will integrate the same proven autonomy stack used across Saronic’s existing family of ASVs. The vessel incorporates Saronic’s vertically integrated approach, disciplined engineering philosophy, and strong domestic supplier network.

Meanwhile, the acquisition of Gulf Craft is expected to provide Saronic with the infrastructure and skilled workforce needed to develop, rapidly iterate, and scale production of Saronic’s MUSVs today and into the future. Earlier on, the company unveiled its plans for the construction of Port Alpha, a next-generation shipyard dedicated to building new classes of autonomous ships.

“While we actively search for a home for Port Alpha, this acquisition gives us the immediate capacity to meet urgent customer needs for larger autonomous vessels and the flexibility to scale to address emerging commercial and defense applications of these advanced systems,” said Saronic CEO Dino Mavrookas.

“The investment of Saronic in Louisiana’s shipbuilding industry will grow our economy, create high-quality jobs, and bolster America’s maritime strength,” said the Honorable Mike Johnson (R-LA), Speaker of the House. 

“By revitalizing our industrial base right here in Louisiana, we are taking a critical step toward building our own supply chains and countering foreign competitors like China. All of this is essential to our national security. We are grateful to Saronic for their commitment to this industry and our great state.”

The acquisition adds nearly 100 acres to Saronic’s footprint, supporting both immediate MUSV development and production as well as capacity for significant expansion.

Saronic plans to invest more than $250 million directly into the shipyard, which will encompass large facility upgrades that will enable it to apply a first-principles approach to shipbuilding. This includes modernizing infrastructure, acquiring new machinery, and updating the facilities while focusing on building a production system engineered for speed, scalability, and quality. 

These upgrades will support a rapid capacity ramp-up, enabling Saronic to deliver up to 50 unmanned ships per year, the firm concluded.

“Louisiana is home to a robust maritime and defense industrial base. Saronic’s investment furthers the state’s position as a leader in the production of unmanned vessels, which are critical for the success of future Department of Defense missions,” stated Congressman Clay Higgins, Louisiana’s 3rd District.