The U.S. Navy has awarded Saronic a contract to build Landing Craft Utility vessels at the company's new shipyard in the Port of Brownsville, according to a news release.

The Port Alpha shipyard project was announced during a July 16 press conference. It aims to produce the vessels as part of a firm fixed-price agreement, and it will be the first build at the facility.

Landing Craft Utility vessels move troops, vehicles and cargo from ships offshore directly onto a beach or unimproved shoreline without needing a port or pier. They carry up to 170 tons of cargo and can travel roughly 1,200 nautical miles, Saronic said in a news release.

The Navy and Marine Corps are replacing an aging fleet of these vessels. Saronic will build multiple units to address that need.

"This award reflects the kind of partnership we set out to build with the Navy, where speed, cost discipline, and a modern industrial base reinforce each other," Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas said. "Port Alpha is designed to produce large autonomous surface vessels alongside currently manned ships, supporting the Navy's hybrid fleet strategy while adding surge capacity to the broader U.S. maritime industrial base."

Mavrookas said Saronic is helping address a critical backlog facing America's shipyards with one of Port Alpha's first builds.

"We are tackling the quick production of a vital manned vessel the Navy needs today as we ramp up to meet the needs of an autonomous maritime future," Mavrookas said.

Saronic expects to begin production at Port Alpha in 2028, with first deliveries starting in 2029.

The company has existing work with the Navy, including a $400 million production agreement for Corsair, its 24-foot autonomous surface vessel, and a selection for at-sea testing for Marauder, its 180-foot autonomous ship. Saronic has built more than 400 Corsairs to date.