GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) — Saronic Technologies, a company that builds autonomous boats for commercial and military purposes, has established a test site at the Port of Gulfport.

Saronic said Sunday that the site will support on-water testing and commissioning the company’s 180-foot Marauder Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels in between production and final delivery.

Dino Mavrookas, co-founder and CEO of Saronic, said the company was drawn to Gulfport because of the partnerships the port has developed in industry, with the University of Southern Mississippi and the government.

“With a long legacy in shipbuilding, fabrication, and offshore operations, Gulfport is an ideal location to support the testing and commissioning of Marauder as we scale production and deliver autonomous ships to our defense and commercial partners,” Mavrookas said.

Spanning more than 30,000 square feet, Saronic’s facility offers dedicated port access, office and warehouse space.

Saronic said the first Marauder arrived at the port in mid-July and has been undergoing testing. The company said the vessel logged hundreds of hours of testing with testing taking place 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Jon Nass, CEO of the Port of Gulfport, said the port is proud that the next generation of ships that will strengthen U.S. maritime security are being proven in the Mississippi Sound.

“The Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise was built to anchor the uncrewed maritime industry on the Gulf Coast, and Saronic’s decision to test and commission Marauder at Gulfport is the strongest signal yet that the strategy is working,” Nass said. “We are ready and excited to grow with Saronic as production scales.”

Additional Marauders are in production at Saronic’s shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, the company said. Those ships will also be tested in Gulfport as production grows.

Gov. Tate Reeves shared the announcement on social media Sunday.

“Mississippi continues to attract companies that are shaping the future of American industry, and Saronic’s expansion to Gulfport is another great example of that momentum,” Gov. Reeves said. “Our state’s strong maritime assets, pro-business environment, and talented workforce make Mississippi the right place for companies developing the next generation of maritime technologies.”

Rep. Mike Ezell said the partnership is a major win for Mississippi and a testament to the unmatched capabilities of the Gulf Coast workforce.

“As Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, I’m proud to support innovative technologies that strengthen our national defense while creating high-quality jobs here at home,” Rep. Ezell said.

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