Galveston’s Shot at Maritime Greatness Needs More Than Applause—It Needs Incentives

The bipartisan SHIPSA Act—the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act—is making its way through Congress. Both Republicans and Democrats agree: America must build ships again.

But while Davie has momentum, it’s not alone. Hanwha, the South Korean conglomerate, acquired Philly Shipyard last year. Gulf Coast shipyards in Mississippi and Alabama are also jockeying for position.

If Texas wants to win, we have to compete—not just on merit, but on incentives.

Why Galveston Still Has the Edge

Galveston has three strategic advantages:

1. A ready-made workforce from Houston’s industrial sectors—pipefitters, welders, machinists, and steelworkers whose skills directly transfer to shipbuilding.
2. Unified civic and business leadership, including the Galveston Economic Development Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce, who have actively courted Davie.
3. A port ready for transformation, with deepwater access and space to scale both industrial and cargo operations.

And with Davie’s proven expertise and the ICE Pact already linking Canada, Finland, and the U.S., the pipeline of skills and technology is in place.

But all of this means little if Washington doesn’t award the contracts—and that’s where incentive-based support becomes make-or-break.

What We Need to Secure the Win

If Texas wants to lead the next wave of U.S. shipbuilding, we must act like a state that believes in industrial rebirth.

That means:

• A state-level incentive package that rivals what’s been used to attract Tesla, Samsung, and Intel
• Land lease agility and coordination from local entities like the Galveston Wharves Board
• Federal advocacy from Texas’ congressional delegation to steer icebreaker production toward our coast
• Public-private infrastructure planning to ensure port, rail, and road capacity can support increased shipyard activity

This is more than a development deal. It’s a strategic pivot for Galveston—and the Gulf.

A Moment Bigger Than the Island

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about economic development. This is about restoring America’s capacity to project power and secure trade routes in the Arctic, where new lanes are opening as ice melts and superpowers jostle for dominance.

Galveston is being invited to play a role in a global story—one with military, economic, and symbolic weight.

We’ve gotten this far by working quietly and strategically. Now we must go further—with clarity, urgency, and a shared commitment to making incentives match ambition.

Let’s Make the Case—And Make It Stick

If we want Galveston to help rebuild America’s naval capacity—and secure the economic and civic future this deal promises—we need to do more than celebrate a press release.

We need to act, advocate, and invest like the future depends on it.

Because this time, it does.

UPDATES!

UPDATE: Deal Expands to Corpus Christi, Gulf Copper Name Likely to Stay
Since our original reporting, new details have emerged about the scope and potential of Davie Shipbuilding’s $1 billion investment into Texas—and they point to a broader and more ambitious plan than previously understood.

✅ More Than Galveston:
While much of the focus has centered on Pelican Island, Davie’s acquisition of Gulf Copper will also include shipyard operations in Corpus Christi and the company’s Energy Services division, which supports offshore drilling. This positions Davie not just as a shipbuilder—but as a multifaceted industrial player along the Texas Gulf Coast.

✅ Existing Jobs Protected:
Davie plans to retain over 400 existing Gulf Copper employees, an encouraging sign for workforce stability and continuity. Gulf Copper’s other business segments will continue operating independently.

✅ The Name Lives On:
Despite the ownership shift, the Gulf Copper name will likely remain in some form, signaling a respect for legacy and brand familiarity as Davie integrates its operations.

✅ Federal Context Grows Bigger:
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has cleared the House and is under Senate review, includes over $5 billion for Coast Guard infrastructure, specifically referencing cutters and icebreakers. If passed, this could supercharge the timeline and funding available for shipyards like the one Davie is building in Galveston.

✅ Facility Potential Confirmed:
Davie says that once outfitted, the Galveston and Port Arthur yards could produce multiple icebreakers simultaneously. Hypothetically, the company says it could deliver a complex polar vessel in 48 months or less.

✅ No Local Incentives Yet:
City and port officials confirmed there are no current local incentives offered to Davie, and no public discussions have occurred yet at the Wharves Board. The lease—which began in 2006—remains active, with Gulf Copper having paid over $24 million in rent to the Port of Galveston.

Written by David Landriault – Co-Founder – The 1839.