Master Boat Builders is making a major investment in coastal Alabama, unveiling plans for a $60 million defense-centered shipbuilding complex in Coden that will significantly expand the state’s capabilities within the U.S. maritime industrial base. The new project marks one of the largest single-site expansions for a Gulf Coast shipbuilder in recent years and positions the company to take on a wider range of federal contracts.
According to reporting from WorkBoat, the development will include a 150,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing center built on a 20-acre waterfront site located across Bayou Coden from Master Boat Builders’ current yard. By creating a standalone facility dedicated to government and defense work, the company says it will be able to boost production capacity for U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships while improving schedule reliability for federal programs.
Company president Garrett Rice said the expansion reflects growing national demand for domestically built defense vessels. “This new facility is about building more capability here at home,” he said. “By dedicating an entire yard to defense programs, we’re creating the capacity and flexibility needed to deliver for all of our customers and supporting the nation’s call for a stronger, more resilient maritime industrial base.”
The facility is designed around serial production, allowing for efficient construction of steel and aluminum vessels as well as large modular components used in major military programs. Master Boat Builders is already a key supplier for the U.S. Navy’s Landing Craft Utility (LCU) program, part of an outsourcing partnership with Austal USA. With the new yard, the company plans to pursue additional federal opportunities, including the U.S. Coast Guard’s Domestic Icebreaker program, which is expected to require long-term production support.
Two Mobile-based firms—Thompson Engineering and RJ Baggett Construction—will lead the design, engineering, and construction of the new facility. Their involvement continues the region’s longstanding tradition of Gulf Coast engineering expertise supporting complex industrial and maritime projects.
In addition to enhancing production capacity, the expansion will also help develop future workforce pipelines. The new site includes dedicated training space designed to attract and prepare skilled shipbuilders, welders, fabricators, and marine engineers. Modernized layouts and modular-building infrastructure will allow crews to work more efficiently while gaining experience with the advanced techniques now used in military shipbuilding nationwide.
According to WorkBoat, site clearing began last month, marking the official start of the multi-year construction process. The full buildout is expected to take 18 to 24 months, and until the facility becomes fully operational, LCU module fabrication will continue at the company’s existing Coden yard.
The expansion solidifies Master Boat Builders as a critical part of Alabama’s defense industrial ecosystem and reinforces the Gulf Coast’s growing prominence in federal maritime programs. Once complete, the new yard will enhance U.S. shipbuilding capacity at a time when national leaders continue emphasizing the need for a modernized and resilient domestic fleet.
Originally reported by Sherri Blevins in Yellowhammernews.
