U.S. shipbuilder Davie Defense broke ground recently on the modernization of Gulf Copper shipbuilding facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas.
The move marks the return of complex shipbuilding in Texas for the first time in decades, officials said, and is a step toward Davie Defense’s investment into America’s maritime industrial base.
“America cannot restore maritime strength without rebuilding its industrial capability,” Philip Burns-O’Brien, President & CEO Davie Defense & Gulf Copper, said. “Gulf Copper is more than a facility investment; it is part of the broader vision to revive U.S. shipbuilding capacity as strategic competition increases. Texas has the industrial foundation, talent and ambition to lead this renaissance.”
The shipyard upgrade will happen in stages. The first stage is scheduled to be completed in 2028 and could reach up to $1 billion. The initial stage coincides with the beginning of construction for the first of three Arctic Security Cutters (ASC) for the U.S. Coast Guard, which Davie Defense affiliate Helsinki Shipyard in Finland will build. The cutters are scheduled for delivery in 2028.
“Texas is ground zero for the revitalization of the American shipbuilding industry,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said. “Davie Defense’s significant investment in this expanded shipbuilding facility will bring more advanced defense manufacturing to our great state, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and enhance America’s maritime security. Now more than ever, Texas will play a key role in keeping the American homeland safe. Our globally recognized business climate and top-tier workforce provide the foundation for Davie Defense to build a fleet that will ensure the United States, and its allies are more secure than ever.”
Officials expect the Gulf Copper project to create approximately 2,400 new American jobs, and to support up to 7,000 jobs through supply chain and related economic activity.