St. Johns Ship Building, Palatka, Fla., has been awarded its first contract to build a vessel for the U.S. Navy. The project is for the construction of a dive support vessel (DSV) that will be used for diving operations, underwater support, and training.
The vessel will be built at the company’s facility on the St. Johns River.
"Securing our first contract with the U.S. Navy is a tremendous achievement and reflects the dedication, talent, and hard work of our entire team," stated Joe Rella, president of St. Johns Ship Building. "This milestone not only highlights our shipyard’s capacity to meet the demanding standards required by the Navy but also aligns with the broader vision of Americraft Marine. We’re proud to support the objectives in the SHIPS for America Act to expand and revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry."
The award aligns with national policy goals outlined in the SHIPS for America Act, which aims to bolster domestic shipbuilding capacity. The legislation supports investment in U.S.-based yards to build and maintain a fleet that supports national defense, and the Jones-Act fleet.
Americraft Marine, which owns St. Johns Ship Building, noted in the press release that it has made investments in workforce development and yard infrastructure since acquiring the yard in 2022.
No additional details about the timeline or specifications of the DSV were released at the time of publication. WorkBoat reached out to St. Johns Ship Building for additional specs on the vessel.
