Saronic is opening a nearly 15,000 sq. ft. office in downtown New Orleans to serve as an engineering and technical hub supporting its expanding shipbuilding operations in Louisiana. The office will house hardware engineers, naval architects, marine engineers, and system testing experts to support the design and development of Marauder, the company’s 180-foot autonomous ship, produced at scale in Franklin, Louisiana.

The US Navy awarded Saronic a $392 million contract in December 2025 for its 24-foot Corsair autonomous vessels, transitioning from prototype to production in under 12 months. Capable of carrying approximately 1,000 lbs., traveling over 1,000 nautical miles, and exceeding speeds of 35 knots, the Corsair is designed to support hybrid manned–unmanned fleet operations. Saronic’s expanded Franklin shipyard underpins high-rate production for both the Corsair and Marauder programs, reflecting the company’s commitment to rapid innovation and scaled maritime manufacturing.

Saronic has been advancing US shipbuilding by expanding its Louisiana shipyard and developing Port Alpha, while integrating physical AI for welding robotics to boost efficiency, safety, and production quality. Partnering with Path Robotics, Saronic is deploying intelligent welding cells that combine AI, computer vision, and skilled welders to accelerate high-volume ship production. Sacronic writes:

Saronic today announced it is opening a nearly 15,000 square foot office in downtown New Orleans. The new space will serve as a key engineering and technical hub to support the company’s expanding shipbuilding operations in Louisiana.  […]

The new office will house hardware engineers, naval architects, marine engineers, and experts in system testing to support the design and development of Marauder, Saronic’s 180-foot autonomous ship. […]

“Louisiana has been at the center of American shipbuilding for generations, and New Orleans gives us direct access to the people and technical skills that make that possible,” said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic. “This facility builds on our growing investment in the state and strengthens the connection between our teams and Gulf Coast operations, allowing us to move faster as we field and deploy autonomous surface vessels and ships for both defense and commercial partners.” […]

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