KEY TAKEAWAYS: Saronic’s $300 million Franklin shipyard expansion has reached its topping-out milestone. The project will add more than 300,000 square feet and is expected to be completed in early 2027. The expanded shipyard will include three new slips, warehouse space and a production line for 180-foot autonomous Marauder vessels. The investment is expected to increase demand for skilled workers, suppliers and contractors across South Louisiana’s maritime economy.   Franklin’s emergence as a hub for advanced shipbuilding is taking another step forward, as construction crews have topped out Saronic Technologies’ $300 million shipyard expansion. The project is expected to increase production of autonomous vessels and bring new momentum to South Louisiana’s maritime economy. JE Dunn Construction and Alberici Constructors Inc. recently celebrated the topping out of the project by placing the final structural beam on the expanded facility. The expansion is expected to be completed in early 2027 and will add more than 300,000 square feet to Saronic’s existing Franklin shipyard. A structural beam carrying an American flag is lifted into place at Saronic Technologies’ Franklin shipyard expansion during the topping-out milestone. The $300 million project is expected to be completed in early 2027. For South Louisiana, the project represents more than a construction investment. It strengthens the region’s position in a rapidly evolving American maritime industry while creating demand for skilled workers, suppliers, engineers and other businesses connected to shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing. Saronic, a company focused on maritime autonomy and next-generation shipbuilding, plans to use the expanded facility to increase production of its Marauder vessels. The 180-foot ships are designed to operate fully autonomously. The expansion includes three new slips, additional warehouse capacity and a dedicated production line for Marauder vessels. “This expansion brings together modern infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and a growing skilled workforce to increase production capacity and deliver autonomous ships at scale,” Doug Lambert, Saronic’s co-founder and chief operating officer, said. “Franklin is central to how Saronic is scaling the next generation of American shipbuilding.” An aerial view shows Saronic Technologies’ $300 million shipyard expansion in Franklin. The project will add more than 300,000 square feet, including three new slips, expanded warehouse space and a production line for autonomous vessels. The project broke ground in November 2025 and has moved forward on an accelerated construction schedule. At its peak, about 200 craft professionals, engineers and project leaders were working on the project. Drew Cain, vice president and project executive at JE Dunn, said the facility could help reshape the nation’s shipbuilding industry. “This expansion represents the promising future for the industry, built with new and innovative technologies that only modern manufacturing can deliver,” Cain said. “It is a tremendous honor for the JE Dunn | Alberici joint venture to build a facility that will fundamentally reshape American shipbuilding.” The construction effort has involved close coordination among Saronic, JE Dunn, Alberici and KPFF, the project’s design partner. Project leaders said proactive procurement, early acquisition of critical materials and the joint venture’s ability to perform portions of the work itself helped keep construction moving quickly. Structural steel was fabricated by Hillsdale Fabricators, an Alberici company, allowing the teams responsible for design, fabrication and installation to coordinate more closely. Aaron Walsh, vice president and market leader at Alberici, said reaching the topping-out milestone required precise coordination on a complex project. “Having the structural steel fabricated by Hillsdale Fabricators, an Alberici company, strengthened coordination among design, fabrication and field installation to ensure agility with design and accelerating schedule,” Walsh said. What the project means for South Louisiana The Saronic expansion adds another high-profile advanced manufacturing project to a region with a long history in shipbuilding, offshore energy and maritime commerce. Its potential impact extends beyond the shipyard itself. A larger production operation can support jobs in welding, electrical work, fabrication, engineering, logistics, maintenance and other skilled trades while creating opportunities for regional suppliers and contractors. The project also positions Franklin and the Gulf Coast to participate in the growing market for autonomous maritime systems, an industry with applications in national defense, commercial shipping and other maritime operations, according to Saronic. According to the Louisiana Economic Development, for a region where shipbuilding and maritime industries have long been major economic drivers, Saronic’s investment could help connect South Louisiana’s traditional industrial workforce with newer technologies and manufacturing methods. The topping out signals that the project has moved beyond its early construction phase. With completion expected in early 2027, Saronic is moving closer to having the expanded infrastructure needed to produce autonomous vessels at greater scale. “Our partners have moved with tremendous speed to bring this facility to life, demonstrating what’s possible when we work together with urgency and a shared commitment to strengthening the American maritime industrial base,” Lambert said. Aaron Gonsoulin is the General Assignment/Trending Reporter for The Daily Advertiser. Contact him at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: $300 million Saronic expansion puts Franklin at shipbuilding forefront Reporting by Aaron Gonsoulin, Lafayette Daily Advertiser / Lafayette Daily Advertiser USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect ...read more read less