Maritime Tech Startup Joins Forces with Established Shipbuilder
Blue Water Autonomy, a maritime tech startup focused on designing and building unmanned surface vessels, has announced a partnership with Louisiana-based Conrad Shipyard to assemble its first class of autonomous ships.
Strategic Partnership
Rylan Hamilton, cofounder of Blue Water Autonomy, highlighted Conrad Shipyard’s proven capabilities and the partnership’s potential to deliver ships quickly while leveraging existing U.S. shipbuilding capacity.
Blue Water’s Growth
The Boston-based startup, founded in 2024 by Navy veterans, has raised $61 million in Series A funding and recruited senior executives from General Dynamics and Serco.
Conrad Shipyard’s Expertise
Conrad Shipyard, with multiple facilities along the Gulf Coast, specializes in building steel and aluminum auxiliary ships for commercial and military applications.
Innovation and Naval Capabilities
Cecil Hernandez, president and CEO of Conrad Shipyard, expressed pride in supporting Blue Water Autonomy’s program and contributing to the development of autonomous naval capabilities.
Industry Momentum
Blue Water’s partnership is part of a wave of announcements from unmanned surface vessel producers following the Navy’s industry day for its Modular Attack Surface Craft program. Companies like Senesco Marine, BlackSea Technologies, and HII have also unveiled new vessels and partnerships aimed at securing a share of the Navy’s future program.
