The Triumph Gulf Coast Board approved $76 million to bring advanced maritime manufacturing to the Port of Pensacola. We now know the shipbuilder’s identity, Birdon America, Inc.
Birdon America, Inc. is the U.S. arm of Australian shipbuilder Birdon Group, focused on shipbuilding, repair, and marine propulsion for U.S. military and government customers, and its closest operation to Pensacola is its Gulf Coast shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.
What Birdon America does
Birdon America is a federal contractor primarily classified under shipbuilding and repairing (NAICS 336611), founded in 2010 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
- The company’s U.S. maritime work includes major programs like the U.S. Army Bridge Erection Boat program and refits of U.S. Coast Guard 47-foot Motor Lifeboats, along with NAMJet marine propulsion manufacturing.
Birdon positions itself as an experienced U.S. government defense prime contractor providing design, production, upgrades, and in?service support for marine vessels.
- According to the application, Birdon will create approximately 2,000 high-wage jobs over five years—with average annual salaries exceeding $80,000, roughly 140% of Escambia County’s current average wage. The total project investment is estimated at $275 million.
Triumph staff rated the proposal with an “A” score, projecting a return on investment of $33.6 of additional household income for every Triumph dollar expended—translating to $2.55 billion in additional household income over ten years.
The Maritime Industrial Base Office at the Department of the Navy has formally endorsed the project. In a letter of support, Matthew Evans, Deputy Program Director, praised the initiative’s potential contribution to expanding America’s maritime industrial capacity. See Triumph’s economic analysis .
Good catch and a typo on my part. Thx
The Pensacola News Journal reports they approved $76 million.
I am a retired after 46 years US Merchant Mariner Officer. I have seen numerous Shipyards all over the world. If Pensacolians think our local Patti shipyard is what they can expect all shipyards to be like. Patti’s is an exception. It is without a doubt the cleanest and non-polluting shipyard you will find. Placing a shipyard that will employ 2000 personnel in downtown Pensacola will destroy everything that makes Pensacola a highly desirable destination for visitors and locals alike. Shipyards in general come and go. When the latest trends in Marine utilization and design change, large shipyards either must downsize or fail.
Not only will a shipyard create run off pollution, air, noise and traffic problems the damage to the port itself could be enormous if it fails.
I was born and raised in Pensacola. The Suarez side of my family were here before Galvez. I’ve sailed all over the world always returning to Pensacola. I’ve seen the changes the town has gone through. As a child we did our shopping on South Palafox. The malls pretty much put downtown out of business. I’ve watched the revitalization of downtown. In reality it pretty much began with Seville and Traders. Preservation and festivals first brought people back. What is happening to South Palafox will make it more walkable, adding to what brings both locals and visitors down to shop and for entertainment. Heavy Industry does not mix well with what we have going in Pensacola. What we have put together for our city is something that will out last the changes that Industry go through. Museums, Art galleries Ballparks the YMCA, all contribute to what makes Pensacola special and brings the people.I realize that bring more jobs any where can be a good thing . Only if you’re not shooting the Goose that lays the Golden eggs. I wish I were more eloquently spoken. If I were I would have expessed more.
Regards Capt. Mark F.Moore