Saronic Expands its Louisiana Shipyard with $300 Million Investment to Accelerate Autonomous Ship Production

Franklin, Louisiana — Saronic today announced a $300 million investment to expand its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard — a major milestone in the company’s continued growth as a leader in autonomous shipbuilding. This investment will significantly increase production capacity for Saronic’s fleet of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs), adding 1,500 skilled jobs and strengthening the Gulf Coast’s role in the future of American maritime innovation in the process. 

Supported by close partnerships with Louisiana Economic Development, St. Mary Parish, and other state and local officials, Saronic is expanding its facility to meet surging demand for its autonomous ships. The company broke ground on the new construction project in November 2025, which will add more than 300,000 square feet of new production capacity. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2026, with expanded operations coming online in early 2027.

“This expansion represents what American industry can achieve when innovation and production are fully aligned,” said Dino Mavrookas, Saronic Co-founder and CEO. “Our expanded shipyard will enable us to deliver autonomous ships at unprecedented speed and scale while creating 1,500 high-quality jobs across Louisiana. Together with our next-generation Port Alpha shipyard, we’re establishing the modern blueprint for American shipbuilding — an integrated ecosystem that connects autonomy innovation with large-scale production capacity to strengthen and sustain America’s maritime leadership for generations to come.” 

As part of the shipyard expansion, Saronic will construct three new slips, expand its warehouse, and develop a dedicated production line for large-vessel assembly — namely Marauder, the company’s 180-foot autonomous ship. Saronic is collaborating with industry leaders JacobsWyper Architects, P2S, KPFF, JE Dunn, and Alberici on the design and construction. 

“Saronic Technologies’ decision to invest in Louisiana speaks to the strength of our workforce and the state’s leadership in defense manufacturing,” Governor Jeff Landry said. “Louisiana has long built the ships and technology that keep America strong. This project shows that our people, our ports and our pro-growth policies are creating jobs and securing our state’s place at the forefront of America’s defense economy.”

“Saronic’s expansion draws on Louisiana’s historic strengths — a world-class maritime workforce, generations of shipbuilders and unmatched technical expertise,” LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. “This project builds on that proud legacy by integrating new technology and innovation to ensure our state continues leading in the maritime and defense sectors for decades to come.”