The United States is home to one of the most advanced shipbuilding industries in the world, serving as a cornerstone for both national defense and global maritime innovation. In today’s rapidly evolving marine technology landscape, U.S. shipyards are no longer just steel-cutting factories—they are high-tech ecosystems where design innovation, digital transformation, and complex engineering converge. From nuclear aircraft carriers to LNG bunkering barges and autonomous naval vessels, American shipyards are at the forefront of marine construction, research, and strategic deployment.
According to the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the private shipbuilding and repair industry directly supported more than 107,000 jobs in 2019, generated $9.9 billion in labor income, and contributed $12.2 billion to the national GDP. As of the latest data, there are 154 active private shipyards spread across 29 U.S. states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, over 300 other facilities offer repair services and possess the technical capacity to construct ships, even if they are not currently active in new shipbuilding.
While many of these shipyards are located in coastal regions, a significant number are strategically placed along inland waterways such as the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Ohio River—demonstrating the geographical depth of America’s maritime infrastructure.
Within this expansive network, ten shipyards stand out for their technological leadership, production capabilities, and long-term contributions to both military and commercial maritime needs. These include Austal USA, General Dynamics NASSCO, Newport News Shipbuilding, Philly Shipyard, Bath Iron Works, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Vigor Industrial, Ingalls Shipbuilding, BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Together, these facilities represent the core of U.S. shipbuilding innovation.
Austal USA, located in Mobile, Alabama, has transformed from a modest 14-acre operation into a key contributor to high-speed aluminum and steel vessel construction. Founded in 1999, Austal pioneered the use of modular manufacturing and automated assembly lines in American shipbuilding. The yard is renowned for its work on Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and is an essential partner in the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) programs. Austal’s portfolio also includes medical ships, towing and salvage vessels, landing craft, and ocean surveillance ships. With service centers in San Diego and Singapore, the company plays a vital role in both ship construction and ongoing fleet support. Its commitment to workplace safety and precision engineering has earned it numerous accolades, including 23 safety excellence awards.
On the West Coast, General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego stands out as the only shipyard with comprehensive build and repair capabilities in the region. Since the 1960s, NASSCO has constructed support ships for the U.S. Navy, as well as commercial tankers and dry cargo vessels. The yard has facilities in San Diego, Norfolk, Mayport, and Bremerton, offering coast-to-coast service coverage. With a main yard situated along the 35-foot-deep San Diego Bay, NASSCO can construct 1,000-foot-long ships and provides state-of-the-art repair capabilities through its extensive drydocks, cranes, fabrication shops, and outfitting areas. It has been instrumental in promoting eco-friendly technologies such as hybrid propulsion systems and energy-efficient hull designs.
Further east, Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia is the only shipyard in the United States authorized to build nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. A division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, this facility has been a cornerstone of naval power since its founding in 1886. Newport News has constructed over 800 vessels, including aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and other high-value naval assets. It is the builder of the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, such as the USS John F. Kennedy and the upcoming USS Enterprise, expected to launch in 2025. The yard also conducts full refueling and complex overhauls (RCOH) of the Navy’s Nimitz-class carriers. Spanning over 2.2 square kilometers, Newport News is not only a center for cutting-edge shipbuilding but also a pioneer in the use of digital twin technology, virtual reality modeling, and predictive maintenance analytics.
Philly Shipyard, based in Philadelphia, specializes in commercial ship construction and has emerged as a trusted partner for both government and private sector projects. Established in 1997 as a public-private venture, the yard has delivered dozens of product tankers and container ships, and more recently, it has won contracts to build five Multi-Mission Support Vessels (MSMVs) for MARAD. Philly Shipyard also contributed to the U.S. Navy’s Common Hull Auxiliary Multi-Mission Platform (CHAMP) design studies. Its heavy use of digital tools and modernized facilities makes it one of the most efficient and cost-effective commercial yards in the U.S., especially as demand grows for Jones Act-compliant domestic vessels.
Bath Iron Works, located in Bath, Maine, is a historic yet future-oriented shipyard specializing in non-nuclear surface combatants. Since its founding in 1884, Bath Iron Works has delivered more than 425 vessels, including many of the U.S. Navy’s most technologically sophisticated warships. It is best known for building Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided-missile destroyers. The yard utilizes a land-level construction platform that allows modules to be outfitted in a controlled environment before final assembly, thereby increasing productivity and reducing labor hours. Bath Iron Works continues to integrate digital ship design, advanced materials, and modular production techniques, ensuring it remains a critical asset to U.S. naval superiority.
In the Midwest, Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) in Wisconsin has grown into one of America’s premier military shipyards. Established in 1942 along the Menominee River, FMM is a key player in constructing Freedom-class LCS, Constellation-class frigates, and other specialized naval vessels such as mine countermeasure ships and polar-capable support craft. As part of the Italian-owned Fincantieri Marine Group, the yard has undergone a comprehensive modernization to support high-precision modular construction. It now operates one of the most advanced U.S. facilities for large-vessel assembly, using heavy-lift cranes, automated welding, and digital inventory management systems.
Vigor Industrial in Portland, Oregon, operates one of the largest and most capable shipyards on the U.S. West Coast. The 60-acre site features three drydocks, 15 piers totaling over 10,000 feet, 13 cranes, and a massive buildway for oversized construction projects. Vigor builds aluminum workboats, ferries, barges, tugboats, and specialized combat craft. It is also a leader in LNG conversions, hybrid-electric propulsion, and sustainable vessel design. The yard has proven its ability to adapt to both commercial and defense markets, handling everything from cruise ship retrofits to Navy aircraft carrier maintenance.
In Pascagoula, Mississippi, Ingalls Shipbuilding—also part of Huntington Ingalls Industries—is the largest private employer in the region and a strategic shipbuilder for the U.S. Navy. Since 1938, Ingalls has produced amphibious assault ships, cutters, and destroyers, including San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, America-class landing helicopter assault ships, and National Security Cutters for the Coast Guard. The yard employs over 12,500 workers and has implemented advanced fabrication techniques, including robotic welding, 3D scanning, and laser alignment, enabling it to meet tight deadlines and complex naval requirements.
BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, with locations in Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida, offers a blend of commercial and military services, including luxury yacht conversion, naval vessel maintenance, and combat systems modernization. While its former Mobile, Alabama, facility closed in 2018, BAE remains a major player in the retrofit and refit segment of the maritime industry. The company’s capabilities include sonar and radar integration, propulsion upgrades, hull reconditioning, and heavy-lift drydocking for vessels up to 900 feet.
Finally, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, focuses on constructing large commercial vessels, including LNG bunkering barges, Great Lakes freighters, cruise ships, and offshore support vessels. With over 100 years of shipbuilding tradition, the yard has continually evolved to meet the needs of modern maritime logistics. It recently built the MV Mark W. Barker, the first new U.S.-flagged bulk carrier on the Great Lakes in more than 35 years. The facility’s work on LNG-compatible vessels supports the growing demand for clean energy transport infrastructure between North America and the Caribbean.
Together, these ten shipyards demonstrate that American shipbuilding is alive, adaptive, and essential. Their collective expertise spans the full range of modern marine technology: from autonomous navigation systems and hybrid propulsion to modular construction, digital modeling, and nuclear power integration. Beyond their economic contributions, these yards serve a deeper function—ensuring national security, maintaining commercial maritime resilience, and positioning the United States as a global leader in sustainable and strategic shipbuilding.
As the marine industry transitions toward zero-emission vessels, unmanned operations, and global digital ship management systems, U.S. shipyards will continue to evolve. With robust government support, strong private-sector investment, and a growing demand for modern maritime platforms, these shipyards are set to remain the pillars of global marine innovation for decades to come.