Master Boat Builders Inc., Coden, Ala., announced on Monday that it is investing $7.8 million to expand and modernize its shipbuilding operations. The project includes the addition of a new fabrication building and a floating drydock, aimed at increasing capacity and efficiency.
The expansion will create 85 new jobs, bringing the company’s workforce to more than 300 employees, Master Boat Builders said.
“This investment is about more than just expanding our ability to build more high-quality vessels. It underscores our commitment to increasing American shipbuilding capacity, and we’re doing it right here along America’s Gulf Coast in Mobile County,” Garrett Rice, president of Master Boat Builders, said in a statement. “By modernizing our facilities and growing our skilled workforce, we’re positioning our team to deliver critical vessels that support U.S. commerce and industry, all while training the next generation of American shipbuilders.”
Construction began in October 2024, and the expanded facilities are expected to be fully operational by October 2025, the company said.
The initiative includes workforce training programs and infrastructure improvements designed to support new harbor tug contracts and long-term growth in the shipbuilding sector.
“Mobile’s maritime industry continues to thrive, and Master Boat’s investment underscores our region’s leadership in shipbuilding,” said Bradley Byrne, Mobile Chamber president and CEO. “By creating new jobs, retaining existing ones and investing in workforce development, this project is a powerful example of how our business community is growing alongside our thriving port and maritime economy.”
Founded in 1979, Master Boat Builders has constructed more than 450 vessels, including tugboats, offshore supply vessels, and fishing and dive support vessels.
“Master Boat Builders is a 45-year-old, third-generation, locally owned shipbuilder located in the Bayou. They have employed thousands of people over that span from local communities and currently employ over 300 people. If we can’t incentivize and support the growth of a business like Master, we shouldn’t be incentivizing anyone,” said District 3 Mobile County Commissioner Randall Dueitt. “This expansion not only secures and creates jobs for local families, but it also reinforces the fact that Mobile County is a leader in shipbuilding and maritime innovation and will be for years to come.”
The expansion also aligns with ongoing regional workforce development efforts, reflecting a growing demand for skilled labor in Alabama’s maritime sector.
“Master Boat’s expansion highlights the continued momentum of Alabama’s maritime industry and reinforces Mobile County’s position as a hub for shipbuilding and repair,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “This investment not only creates quality jobs but also strengthens the region’s capacity to support a vital sector of our state’s economy.”
Earlier this year, Master Boat Builders received $427,596.38 through the Maritime Administration's Small Shipyard Grant program to support the procurement and integration of training equipment and technologies.
