New Partnership Merges U.S. Autonomy Technology with South Korean Shipbuilding Skills
Saronic and South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have formed a strategic partnership focused on speeding up the development of autonomous maritime systems while helping to strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry.
This partnership was announced on Thursday at the launch of the Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) in Washington, D.C. It merges Saronic's knowledge in autonomous surface vessels with SHI's extensive experience in commercial shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing.
The two companies plan to work together to create vessels that can operate autonomously for both government and commercial clients. They will also look into digital technologies powered by AI, automation in production using robotics, and innovative shipyard manufacturing methods.
Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic, stated, "Rebuilding America’s maritime strength needs both top-notch technology and the ability to produce it on a large scale here at home. Together, we will aim to speed up the revitalization of American shipbuilding, train the future workforce, and provide unique, autonomy-capable vessels for various uses."
Sung An Choi, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries, mentioned that the partnership combines both companies' strengths in shipbuilding and maritime autonomy to "shape a more competitive future."
This announcement comes just a week after Saronic chose Brownsville, Texas, as the location for its new $3 billion Port Alpha autonomous shipyard, expected to greatly boost the U.S. capacity to construct large autonomous vessels.
Construction at Port Alpha is set to start later this year, with plans to open in 2028 on an initial 835-acre site at the Port of Brownsville. The facility could eventually accommodate vessels longer than 1,200 feet and create up to 10,000 direct jobs over the next ten years.
The partnership with Samsung also includes developing production infrastructure, focusing on robotic automation across Saronic's shipyards, which include the upcoming Texas facility and the existing shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana. Saronic plans to invest an additional $300 million to boost production capacity in Louisiana after acquiring Gulf Craft last year.
This collaboration showcases the increasing U.S. efforts to enhance domestic shipbuilding by blending American autonomy technology with the manufacturing skills of allied shipbuilders. The partnership was revealed during the launch of the Korea–U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center, a joint initiative by the U.S. Department of Commerce and South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy aimed at fostering closer ties between the two nations' maritime sectors.
The agreement also fits within broader initiatives from the Trump administration to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding and expand the maritime industrial base, through investment in advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and next-generation vessel technologies.
For Saronic, this partnership is a significant move as it evolves from being a developer of autonomous vessels to becoming a major U.S. shipbuilder. The company has gained visibility recently, especially with its Corsair autonomous surface vessel entering operational military service. This vessel was involved in what U.S. Central Command called the first combat use of American sea drones in recent operations against Iranian naval infrastructure earlier this month.