A significant development in the field of defense technology has emerged as Blue Water Autonomy, a Massachusetts-based company, has entered into a production agreement with Louisiana’s Conrad Shipyard to construct its first fleet of unmanned surface vessels. This collaboration marks a pivotal step for Blue Water, which aims to bring innovative autonomous ships to the market while also leveraging domestic shipbuilding capabilities.
Under the new agreement, the Morgan City-based Conrad Shipyard will utilize its expertise across multiple facilities to assemble these vessels using advanced automated techniques. These methods, which include panel line assembly and innovative welding techniques, are designed to accelerate the production process, enabling the simultaneous construction of multiple ships.
Conrad Shipyard has a longstanding history in the maritime industry since its establishment in 1947. It has produced a diverse array of commercial and military vessels, such as tugs, ferries, barges, offshore support vehicles, and gas tankers, often collaborating with the US Navy and various defense entities.
The new partnership follows Blue Water Autonomy’s recent successful funding round, where it raised $50 million, bringing its total investment to $61 million. These funds will primarily support the construction of Blue Water’s long-range autonomous ships, with the first vessels expected to be operational by 2026.
Rylan Hamilton, CEO and co-founder of Blue Water, emphasized the company’s commitment to producing ships designed for active deployment rather than merely for demonstration purposes. He stated, “Conrad is a world-class shipbuilder with proven capability, and this partnership puts us in a position to deliver ships quickly, while demonstrating the expertise and scale of existing US shipbuilding capacity.”
The agreement is part of a broader initiative by Blue Water to tap into underutilized shipyards across the United States, particularly those that can adapt quickly to new projects with modular and scalable designs. This approach comes into focus as the company strengthens its production capabilities by bringing on senior shipbuilding specialists, including Tim Glinatsis and Ryan Maatta, both of whom have extensive experience in military shipbuilding and autonomous systems.
In contrast to traditional manned warships that can take years to construct in specialized yards, Blue Water’s autonomous vessels are designed for quicker production, ongoing updates, and simplified maintenance. Looking ahead, the company plans to collaborate with additional local partners experienced in both commercial and military shipbuilding to further enhance its operational capacity.
Hamilton concluded, “We’ve designed our vessels to be modular, producible, and buildable across the country. What we’re proving with Conrad is just the start. We want to show that the US has the infrastructure to support autonomy at scale, and the talent to build it.” This partnership not only signifies strategic advancements in unmanned vessel technology but also underscores the potential for revitalizing US shipbuilding infrastructure.
