Sterling Shipyard LLC received a $1,000,000 Project Grant award from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) under the Assistance to Small Shipyards program (CFDA 20.814) on August 19, 2025, to support the purchase of a 120x80 floating drydock. The award carries an ultimate completion date of August 18, 2027, providing a two-year implementation timeline for the capital infrastructure acquisition at the shipyard's Port Neches, Texas facility.
The floating drydock acquisition represents a strategic capital improvement designed to expand Sterling Shipyard's operational capacity and technical capabilities in ship construction and repair services. As a small business specializing in the design and fabrication of specialized barges for federal customers, the company will utilize this equipment to enhance production efficiency and cost-effectiveness in support of its ongoing work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal maritime customers. The Assistance to Small Shipyards program prioritizes funding capital equipment and infrastructure improvements that facilitate domestic ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration for both commercial and federal government purposes.