Massachusetts-based Blue Water Autonomy has reached a production agreement with Conrad Shipyard, Louisiana, to build its first fleet of unmanned surface vessels.
The vessels will be assembled in Conrad’s Morgan City facilities using advanced automation, including panel line assembly and welding, allowing multiple ships to be produced in parallel.
Founded in 1947, Conrad has delivered a wide portfolio of ships — from tugs and ferries to offshore support vessels and gas carriers — and maintains long-standing ties with the US defense sector.
This collaboration comes after Blue Water raised $50 million in its first major funding round, bringing its total financing to $61 million. The investment will support delivery of its first long-range autonomous ships by 2026.
Blue Water says the deal reflects its broader plan to revitalize smaller, underused US shipyards by introducing modular, scalable shipbuilding approaches. To support this, the company has brought in top industry veterans, including Tim Glinatsis and Ryan Maatta, to accelerate scaling.
The company highlights that while traditional warships take years to construct, its autonomous vessels will be faster to build, upgrade, and sustain, with additional partnerships planned in both commercial and defense shipbuilding.
