Birdon America Inc., Denver, on Friday announced plans to build a 400,000‑sq.-ft. shipbuilding facility at the Port of Pensacola, Fla., with operations expected to begin in the third quarter of 2027.
The project is supported by a $76 million grant approved for the City of Pensacola by Triumph Gulf Coast, a Florida nonprofit that oversees funds for economic recovery related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funding is intended to cover construction costs for the new facilities, which the city will own and lease long-term to Birdon.
The new shipyard, which is to be built on a site historically used for port cargo and maritime operations, will focus on naval and defense-related work. It will be capable of producing complex Navy ship modules, submarine modules, and surface vessels up to 400'.
Birdon said in a press release that the facility will "incorporate the latest technology and modern shipbuilding practices," with the company projecting more than 3 million production man-hours annually and employment of roughly 2,000 workers, including engineering, skilled trades, and support roles.
The project, known as “Project Maeve” in funding applications, had an estimated total investment of $275 million, including $105 million for construction, $25 million for site preparation and port utility upgrades, and $145 million for equipment. Plans call for a two-phase buildout: a panel line and module fabrication warehouse in phase one, followed by an assembly bay in phase two.
The Australia-based Birdon Group has operations across the United States, Australia, Europe, and Asia. The Pensacola expansion will mark its sixth U.S. location, complementing the company’s existing operations, including Waterways Commerce Cutter construction for the U.S. Coast Guard in Bayou La Batre, Ala., and the 47’ Motor Lifeboat Service Life Extension Program in Bellingham, Wash., and Portland, Conn.
Tony Ardito, president of Birdon America, said, “Birdon has an excellent track record as a reliable partner to U.S. government customers. Our expansion to a sixth location at the Port of Pensacola demonstrates our commitment to helping to revitalize and rebuild America’s maritime industrial base.”
The U.S. government is leading efforts to boost the nation’s shipbuilders and maritime suppliers through multi‑billion‑dollar Defense Department shipbuilding programs, the Navy’s new Maritime Industrial Base office, and legislation like the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, which aims to fund and support domestic shipbuilding.
