Master Boat Builders builds new defence-focused facility
The new facility will bring more shipyard capability to Alabama
(Source: Master Boat Builders)
Master Boat Builders plans to build a USD 60 million facility in Coden, Alabama, dedicated to government and defence shipbuilding. The company says the investment will expand capacity for naval and coastguard programmes and strengthen the US maritime industrial base. The site lies across Bayou Coden from its current yard and covers about 8.09 hectares.
The project centres on a covered manufacturing hall of roughly 13,935m2 designed for serial production. It will support steel and aluminium ship construction and the modular assembly of complex units. Modules for the US Navy’s landing craft utility programme, which Master Boat Builders is undertaking through a strategic outsourcing agreement with Austal USA, will be built at the new yard once it is complete. The company also aims to compete for future contracts, including the coastguard’s domestic icebreaker programme.
Garrett Rice, president of Master Boat Builders, said: “This new facility is about building more capability here at home. By dedicating an entire yard to defence programs, we’re creating the capacity and flexibility needed to deliver for all of our customers and supporting the nation’s call for a stronger, more resilient maritime industrial base.”
Design and engineering work is being carried out with Thompson Engineering and RJ Baggett. Site clearance began in November, and construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months. While work progresses, landing craft utility modules will continue to be fabricated at the existing yard.
