Saronic plans $10 billion autonomous shipyard Port Alpha

Saronic Technologies, a Texas-based defense startup, has raised $600 million in funding to build a state-of-the-art shipyard named Port Alpha, aimed at producing autonomous vessels. The funding round, which significantly increased the company's valuation to $4 billion, was led by entrepreneur Elad Gil. CEO Dino Mavrookas stated that the shipyard will enhance the U.S. Navy's shipbuilding capacity in response to a growing demand for unmanned systems, particularly amid the Pentagon's push for more drones. Although Saronic has yet to finalize a location for the shipyard, Texas and the Gulf Coast are being considered, with operations expected within five years. The company has already developed several unmanned vessels, including the Corsair, Cutlass, and Spyglass, and is focused on addressing workforce challenges in the shipbuilding industry. Saronic's plans align with the Navy's goal of integrating autonomy into its fleet to ensure maritime superiority.