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The first greenfield shipyard to be built in the United States since World War II has begun.
A joint venture of JE Dunn and Alberici began construction in the early stages of military contractor Saronic’s Port Alpha, a more than $3.2 billion shipyard. There, the contractor will manufacture manned, autonomous and autonomous vessels, according to an Oct. 6 announcement from the JV.
The shipyard, located in the Port of Brownsville, Texas, will spread over an initial site of 835 acres, according to the announcement. However, Saronic will have the option expand the shipyard to nearly 4,400 hectaresaccording to a September 30 press release from the company.
The contract consists of three overlapping phases, according to the JV. The site preparation and infrastructure phases will include grading, ground improvement, drainage, access roads and utility infrastructure.
Phase 1 development of the shipyards will then begin with the initial assembly buildings, material handling systems and support facilities. When complete, the site will encompass all manufacturing, warehousing, permanent waterfront and ship-launching infrastructure and employee support facilities.
JE Dunn and Alberici, based in Kansas City, Missouri and St. Louis, respectively, worked with design partners Stantec and KPFF using the progressive design-build delivery method, according to the announcement.
Together, the team will overlay design, procurement and construction across all three stages, to advance the site’s manufacturing capability as the development takes shape.
Scott Shelby, JE Dunn vice president and JV program leader, told Construction Dive via email that the approach allows the team develop and evaluate the design, scope and cost before agreeing on the final construction price.
“This collaboration also helps us determine which parts of the work can move forward while other requirements are resolved,” Shelby said. “For example, we can plan early structural and waterfront packages while coordinating the installation of subsequent equipment and supporting infrastructure.”
This is not the first time the JV has worked with Saronic. Alberici announced in 2025 that the team earned a $300 million expansion from the Saronic Shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana. The contractors finished installation in August.
