Saronic partners with Samsung Heavy Industries to bolster shipbuilding capabilities

A computer generated image of Saronic's planned Port Alpha shipyard in Brownsville, Texas (Saronic Technologies)

Saronic has announced a strategic partnership with South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) “to accelerate the development of autonomy-capable maritime systems and technologies to strengthen America's shipbuilding industrial base”, according to a company statement on 23 July.

The partnership was unveiled during an event launching the “Korea–US Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) in Washington, DC, a new organisation designed to deepen shipbuilding co-operation between the two allied nations”, the statement added.

The agreement is intended to enable the companies to “deliver technologically advanced autonomous vessels for both government and commercial customers”, the statement said.

Saronic brings experience with autonomous systems and scalable manufacturing, while SHI has a background in advanced, high-volume shipbuilding and vessel design, the statement noted.

The partners expect to collaborate on advanced autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital solutions, and production infrastructure. The latter will include robotics-based process automation at Saronic's shipyards, the statement noted.

The partnership aims to identify “opportunities to accelerate the development and production of next-generation maritime platforms”, according to the statement.

“Through this partnership, Saronic and SHI will bring together technology and expertise to build the maritime industrial capacity and workforce America and its allies need, now and into the future,” a Saronic spokesperson told Janes on 24 July.

“We look forward to bringing together [SHI's] world-class practices and our shipyard operations,” the spokesperson said, declining to provide further information.

The partnership builds on Saronic's expanding shipbuilding infrastructure, including its shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, and recently announced Port Alpha facility in Brownsville, Texas, the statement noted.

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