Colonna’s Shipyard Inc., Norfolk, Va., has signed a multiyear agreement with HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division to fabricate structural components for U.S. Navy nuclear shipbuilding programs.
The agreement, which could extend through 2030, is part of Newport News Shipbuilding’s distributed shipbuilding initiative. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Colonna’s will perform the work through its Steel America operation in Norfolk, Va., and Accurity Industrial Contractors facility in Owensboro, Ky. Steel America has previously supplied components for Navy programs, including the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) and Enterprise (CVN 80).
“This agreement better enables CSI to commit resources to expand our facility, continue training and retaining a skilled workforce, and expedite critical components needed for top-line Navy programs,” Randall Crutchfield, chairman and CEO of Colonna’s Shipyard, said in a statement.
The agreement is expected to provide Colonna’s with a more predictable workload while expanding the industrial capacity available to Newport News Shipbuilding.
“CSI is pleased to enter into this partnership by leveraging our facilities and skilled workforce at Accurity Industrial Contractors in Owensboro, Kentucky, alongside our Steel America operations in Norfolk,” Crutchfield said. “Steel America has delivered components supporting multiple U.S. Navy programs, including CVN 78 and CVN 80, and is well positioned to continue support of critical shipbuilding efforts and help meet the nation's growing defense requirements.”
“This agreement reflects the continued growth of our relationship and the shared commitment by both companies to strengthen support for the U.S. Navy,” said Matt Mulherin, Newport News Shipbuilding vice president of supply chain and strategic sourcing.
In July, HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division installed the first grand blocks fabricated by off-site partners for the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Thad Cochran (DDG 135). Gulf Copper, Galveston, Texas, and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Panama City, Fla., built the three units and delivered them to Ingalls before the ship’s keel authentication in October 2025. HII said the early deliveries allowed construction work to begin sooner.
Later that month, Ingalls expanded its distributed shipbuilding program to include modular construction for the Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock program. The Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard awarded eight structural units for the future Philadelphia (LPD 32) to two partner shipyards, with production in its early stages. HII did not disclose the two shipyards selected to fabricate the LPD 32 units or whether Colonna’s is among them.
The strategy builds on Ingalls’ use of outside shipyards to fabricate large structural units for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers before shipping them to Pascagoula for assembly and integration.
In October 2025, Colonna’s announced a $79 million investment to acquire a fourth drydock measuring 725'x147', with a planned lifting capacity of about 25,000 tons, that is slated for delivery in the first half of 2028.
