Updated October 5, 2026.
Gulf Ship builds offshore vessels. Ocean Aero manufactures an ocean vehicle that can operate above and below the water. Saronic brings large autonomous ships to Gulfport for final testing. The companies share a geography, but their work, investments and likely workforce needs are different.
Who is involved
Gulf Ship
Gulfport • ShipbuildingThe shipyard opened in Gulfport in 2006 and is owned by Edison Chouest Offshore, a marine transportation and shipbuilding group based in Cut Off, Louisiana. Gulf Ship builds offshore vessels for private industry and government.
Company and project detailsOcean Aero
Gulfport • Ocean technologyLed by CEO Kevin Decker, the company moved its headquarters and manufacturing operation from San Diego to Gulfport in 2021. It makes the TRITON, a wind- and solar-powered vehicle that can travel on the surface, dive underwater and collect ocean data.
Company and project detailsSaronic
Austin • Autonomous shipsCo-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas leads the Austin, Texas defense technology company. Its 180-foot Marauder ships are built in Franklin, Louisiana, then brought to a 30,000-square-foot Gulfport site for final testing and commissioning.
Company and Gulfport detailsWhat the investments put on the ground
Gulf Ship plans to upgrade its steel fabrication and vessel assembly facilities with automated panel and subassembly lines, T-beam fabrication equipment, robotic welding and improved material handling. The $43.81 million project is expected to add 121 jobs by 2028.
Ocean Aero plans to convert 25,000 square feet of Port storage space into manufacturing space. The $4 million project is designed to increase production of the TRITON and add 45 jobs. Saronic’s Gulfport operation focuses on mission operations, final testing and commissioning rather than ship construction.
Why this matters on the Coast
The three projects place distinct parts of the maritime economy in Gulfport: traditional shipbuilding, production of smaller autonomous ocean vehicles and final testing of large autonomous ships.
The work described by the companies could create demand for welders, steel fabricators, manufacturing technicians, engineers, mission operators, commissioning specialists and local suppliers. The companies have not released the full mix of positions, so those occupations remain an informed projection rather than a confirmed hiring list.
The companies’ expansion announcements do not state average salaries for the 166 planned positions. For a regional comparison, the BLS May 2025 occupational survey, released July 9, 2026, puts the metro’s mean hourly wage at $25.62 across occupations. Production occupations averaged $27.59 an hour; architecture and engineering averaged $45.76. These are regional averages, not offers from the companies. See the occupational wage report.
What remains unanswered
- The job titles, pay ranges and hiring dates for each expansion.
- The certificates, degrees or experience each position will require.
- Where Coast residents can obtain the required training.
- How local businesses can qualify as suppliers or contractors.
- How many positions are filled as the projects move forward.
Saronic’s testing story now has a production milestone
Saronic announced a U.S. Navy production award for its 180-foot Marauder in late September. The company says the vessel completed an eight-day evaluation involving more than 140 scenarios. That moves the platform beyond a testing-only story, although the announcement does not specify additional Gulfport jobs or confirm where every future vessel will be tested. Read Saronic’s announcement.
What comes next
Gulf Ship expects to complete its upgrades by the fourth quarter of 2027 and fill the 121 positions by 2028. Ocean Aero has not announced a public hiring schedule for its 45 positions. Saronic says its first Marauder arrived in Gulfport in mid-July and has been undergoing extended on-water trials before final delivery.
The Coast’s maritime investment also extends west of Gulfport. SubSea Craft plans a production and support operation at Port Bienville in Hancock County, with 56 jobs planned by 2028. That separate project is not included in this story’s 166-job Gulfport total.