Massachusetts-based Blue Water Autonomy has partnered with Conrad Shipyard of Louisiana to produce its first fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The agreement leverages Conrad’s expertise in both commercial and military shipbuilding and highlights Blue Water’s strategy of accelerating ship production through modular design and automation.
Production will take place at multiple Conrad facilities in Morgan City, where advanced methods such as automated panel line assembly and robotic welding will be used. These techniques are expected to cut timelines significantly, allowing several ships to be built at once. Conrad, founded in 1947, has delivered a wide range of ships over its history, from gas tankers and barges to support vessels, and has longstanding ties with the US Navy.
The announcement comes after Blue Water secured $50 million in its first major funding round in 2024, raising its total capital to $61 million. That investment is being channeled into building long-range autonomous ships, with the first fleet targeted for entry into service in 2026. To scale production, the company has also onboarded industry veterans, including Tim Glinatsis, who brings decades of experience from NASSCO and Bath Iron Works, and Ryan Maatta, a former leader of DARPA’s NOMARS program.
According to Blue Water, the partnership is part of a broader effort to utilize smaller, underused shipyards across the country. The company believes modular, scalable ship designs combined with advanced automation will enable faster delivery, easier updates, and lower costs compared to traditional manned warships. Looking ahead, Blue Water plans to expand its collaborations with other local yards, building a production ecosystem to support the rapid fielding of autonomous naval platforms.
