(Photo from Gulf Ship)
- Edison Chouest Offshore CEO Gary Chouest said there is a tremendous amount of focus nationally on rebuilding America’s shipbuilding industrial base, and Mississippi has an important role to play in that effort.
The Mississippi Development Authority announced Wednesday that Gulf Ship is expanding operations in Gulfport with a $43.81 million investment that looks to create 121 jobs.
Gulf Ship is an Edison Chouest Offshore company. The shipyard has operated in Gulfport for more than two decades.
Edison Chouest Offshore CEO Gary Chouest said there is a tremendous amount of focus nationally on rebuilding America’s shipbuilding industrial base, and Mississippi has an important role to play in that effort.
“This project is about investing in American shipbuilding, expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and giving our workforce the facilities, equipment and technology needed to compete at the highest level,” Chouest said. “We are proud to make that investment here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and proud to have state and local partners who recognize the importance of shipbuilding to both Mississippi’s economy and our nation’s maritime future.”
Edison Chouest is headquartered in Larose, Louisiana, and also has shipyard locations in Tampa Bay, Florida and Navegantes, Brazil.
The investment into the Gulfport site is aimed at a major modernization of its existing shipbuilding and steel fabrication facilities. The project will expand Gulf Ship’s production capacity, introduce advanced manufacturing technologies and further position the Gulfport operation to support growing demand for U.S.-built commercial and government vessels.
According to MDA, planned investments include advanced panel and subassembly production lines, T-beam fabrication equipment, automated and robotic welding systems, material handling improvements and other modern shipbuilding technologies that will improve production efficiency, increase capacity and enhance worker safety.
Gulf Ship expects to complete the upgrades by the fourth quarter of 2027 and fill the jobs by 2028.
Governor Tate Reeves touted the investment on the Coast, saying, “Mississippians are the best shipbuilders in America, so this investment makes a lot of sense for Gulf Ship and our state.”
“Mississippi has a long history of building the vessels that keep our nation moving,” Reeves said. “This investment will create 121 new jobs while advancing one of Mississippi’s signature industries. Demand for American-built vessels is growing, and Mississippi has the workforce, expertise and industrial base to help meet it.”
The Mississippi Development Authority said the state agency is assisting with infrastructure improvements and building upgrades while Harrison County is also assisting with the project.
