Saronic Technologies picks Brownsville for $3.2B ‘Port Alpha’

Austin-based Saronic Technologies has chosen the Port of Brownsville for its “Port Alpha” next-generation shipyard, according to Gov. Greg Abbott, who announced the news at Saronic headquarters in a Thursday morning press conference. 

The $3.2 billion project aims to “restore U.S. shipbuilding capacity at scale,” according to the announcement. Saronic, founded in 2022, designs and manufactures Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASV), which don’t require human crews, for commercial and military applications. 

The aim is to establish at the port “one of the most advanced shipyards in the world, built for software-defined shipbuilding and autonomous maritime systems,” according to the announcement, which estimated the regional economic impact for Cameron County at $160 billion and, for the state, $264.5 billion. 

It’s estimated Port Alpha will create up to 10,000 direct jobs over a decade. 

“This makes Port Alpha one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history,” according to the announcement. “Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028.” 

The project is designed to “help restore American maritime strength and significantly expand the nation’s shipbuilding capacity.” 

“The announcement marks a major milestone in Saronic’s mission to restore U.S. shipbuilding capacity at scale,” the company said.

Abbott thanked Brownsville and Cameron County leadership for “stepping up and doing everything they did to make this whole project possible.”

He called the high-paying jobs Saronic will generate “game changing for the population and the employee network of the state of Texas.”

“So Saronic is adding a unique chapter to the Texas economic juggernaut story,” Abbott said. “To frame that story, Texas ranks number one in the United States for the most new jobs. We have the best workforce in the United States, which is one of the reasons why Saronic chose both Texas as well as the Brownsville location.”

Saronic cofounder and CEO Dino Mavrookas said “America’s maritime future depends on our ability to build again.” 

“Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission,” he said. “Built from the ground up to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II, this investment is about more than constructing a shipyard. It is about rebuilding the industrial capacity, workforce, and manufacturing advantage required to ensure American maritime leadership for decades to come. The state of Texas and city of Brownsville give us the foundation to turn that vision into reality.” 

Brownsville was selected following a yearlong, nationwide search for suitable sites (including a major contender in California) that took into account factors such as, infrastructure, expansion potential, logistics and workforce availability. Brownsville’s hand was strengthened in the highly competitive search process when Cameron County last month approved a 95% tax abatement for Saronic over 20 years, worth $211 million. 

Port Alpha initially will be situated on 835 acres at the port, with the opportunity to expand to nearly 4,400 acres. 

The 10,000 or so jobs officials say the project will generate over 10 years would range from skilled trades like welding and machining to advanced jobs in robotics, software engineering and naval architecture. 

Saronic said it will collaborate with the state, county and local educational institutions to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programs meant to sustain long-term industrial growth, while positioning South Texas as a “center of excellence for advanced maritime manufacturing.” 

The company said Port Alpha expands on its “shipbuilding footprint.” In early 2025, Saronic acquired a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, where it is investing $300 million to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity. 

“That facility will continue producing Saronic’s 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel, which was designed and launched in less than one year,” the company said. 

As construction progresses at the port, Saronic said it will “continue working with federal, state and local partners to establish the industrial foundation required for the next generation of maritime power in America.” 

Gil Salinas, president and CEO of the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation, called Saronic’s investment in Brownsville “yet another opportunity for a transformational and a generational project for this region.” 

“Very similar to what we saw with SpaceX back in 2014, the economic impact of this project is going to be far reaching,” he said. “The impact will be the immediate area, we’re going to see a huge economic boom. 

“But it’s impact can be far reaching as far as the Rio Grande Valley and for most of South Texas. It’s going to create high-value-added jobs, great opportunities for people here in the area. And specifically, what I find most exciting is going to create a pipeline of engineers in the Brownsville area, in the (Valley), and how fitting that (the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) has announced that they’ll be putting their engineering school in Brownsville, which is a perfect pipeline of talent of our local people for a project like Saronic.” 

Salinas said GBEDC started working the project on a fast-track basis in spring 2025 in conjunction with the county, the port and the governor’s office. 

“It’s demonstrated that this region can really work together,” he said. “When we work together, magical things happen. … This is yet one more big piece of the bigger picture, of how Brownsville is evolving from what used to be a logistics-and-manufacturing border city to one of space, energy, high tech and AI.” 

GBEDC Chairman Ben Pena said the organization continues to work with companies after projects are announced to help ensure they succeed “by connecting them with the resources, partnerships and workforce they need to grow.” 

“When businesses succeed in Brownsville, our residents, local businesses and regional economy succeed alongside them,” he said. “We are proud to welcome Saronic Technologies to our community and look forward to building a strong partnership for years to come.” 

Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Sergio Tito Lopez said that as the “only deepwater seaport on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Port of Brownsville has long stood as a strategic hub for large-scale industry and shipbuilding.” 

“On behalf of the (BND), I welcome Saronic Technologies and the advanced maritime innovations that will transform our region. I thank Gov. Abbott for his leadership in helping us deliver this win for Texas, strengthening American manufacturing and creating jobs for the people of the Rio Grande Valley and the entire state of Texas.” 

Brownsville Major John Cowen Jr. said “the arrival of Saronic Technologies at the (PORT) marks another major step forward in the continued growth and diversification of our local economy, creating new opportunities for residents across Brownsville and the surrounding region.” 

The investment is especially important as Brownsville bolsters its position in advanced manufacturing and develops a “more competitive, resilient economic market,” he said. 

“Our local universities, colleges and workforce development partners are working cohesively to prepare residents for the job growth ahead, ensuring that opportunities created by companies like Saronic translate into meaningful careers for our community,” Cowen said.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from Gov. Greg Abbott.