Davie, a leading international builder of icebreakers and other specialized ships, plans to acquire shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation, a Texas-based leader in ship repair, construction, and marine services.

Davie possesses commercially viable, production-ready icebreaker designs that meet U.S. mission requirements, providing faster delivery and greater cost efficiency for American taxpayers. With only three Arctic-ready icebreakers currently in service, the U.S. government has made closing this urgent national security gap a top priority. Russia has 50 icebreakers.

Once the transaction is complete and contracts are secured, Davie plans to invest $1 billion to upgrade and expand capacity in Galveston and Port Arthur. The project could generate approximately 4,000 American jobs—around 2,000 directly at Gulf Copper and 2,000 more throughout the supply chain.

To ensure the rapid closure of the transaction, Davie is working closely with organizations and stakeholders in Galveston and Port Arthur, as well as the State of Texas. The acquisition has also received strong support in Washington, D.C.