en.Wedoany.com Reported - Saronic Technologies, an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) enterprise headquartered in Austin, Texas, has expanded to Gulfport, Mississippi, establishing an initial waterborne test site at the Port of Gulfport for its 180-foot Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV), the Marauder. As production of the platform scales up, the site will handle testing and commissioning of these autonomous vessels from production through final delivery.

The first Marauder went from design to launch in less than a year, arriving in Gulfport in mid-July, and has since accumulated hundreds of hours of waterborne testing, with trials running more than 12 hours per day, seven days a week. Additional Marauders are under construction at Saronic's shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, and as production accelerates, they will follow the same path to Gulfport. The site occupies more than 30,000 square feet within the port, featuring dedicated port access, office and warehouse space, with local mission operations and commissioning experts responsible for final end-to-end testing and waterborne trials of each vessel.

The Mississippi State Port Authority has developed the state's port into a growing international deep-water container gateway and, together with the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), has established an unmanned maritime systems research center at the working terminal area. The state has spent years building the conditions needed for unmanned maritime systems, investing before market demand emerged. Jon Nass, CEO of the Port of Gulfport, stated that the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise is designed to anchor the unmanned maritime industry along the Gulf Coast, and validating the Marauder here is a sign that the strategy is working, with the port ready to grow alongside Saronic as production expands.

At an event held at the Port of Gulfport, attendees included Senator Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Governor Tate Reeves, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, and a representative from the office of Congressman Mike Ezell. Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic, said Gulfport's heritage in shipbuilding, manufacturing, and maritime operations makes it an ideal location for Marauder testing and commissioning. Wicker believes unmanned technology is advancing faster because of such innovative companies, and these developments help strengthen the defense industrial base. Reeves stated that the state's maritime assets, business climate, and workforce make it the right place for companies developing next-generation maritime technology.

Hyde-Smith, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said Saronic's decision reflects that Mississippi's maritime assets and partnerships are attracting defense enterprises. Ezell, Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, said designating Gulfport as the Marauder test site proves the capability of the local workforce. Trent Kelly, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, said the investment will strengthen Mississippi's maritime industrial base, support high-paying jobs, and help ensure the Navy has the capabilities it needs in the future.