The U.S. Navy awarded a contract to Conrad Shipbuilding in Orange, Texas, to construct two prototype landing craft with the option for two additional vessels. The agreement is part of a broader initiative involving three shipyards and a total budget of $280 million for prototype development. Conrad’s facility at 710 Market Street will serve as one of the sites for this new manufacturing effort.
What it means
The contract, issued through the “Prototype Other Transaction” authority, supports the Navy’s goal of expanding its shipbuilding industrial base and creating a resilient secondary supply source for landing craft. William F. Mahan noted that selecting three distinct yards allows the service to move at the speed of relevance. The new LCU 1700 prototypes are intended to replace the LCU 1610, which has been in active use for more than 50 years.
The award brings federal defense work back to a region with deep roots in maritime construction. Boat building and repair have defined Orange County’s economy since the 1820s, beginning with George Levingston’s yard in 1859. Local facilities supported the Confederacy, built wooden ships for World War I, and constructed vessels during World War II alongside a joint U.S. Navy-U.S. Steel project that dredged the Sabine River. The Clary family established Orange Shipbuilding in 1974, later securing Navy contracts around 1990 with assistance from U.S. Representative Charles Wilson.
Key facts
- Conrad Shipbuilding received a contract for two landing craft prototypes, with an option for two more.
- The total budget for prototypes across three selected shipyards is $280 million.
- Conrad’s Orange yard covers 25 acres and includes six construction bays and 115,000 square feet of enclosed workspace.
- Potential revenue for the Conrad facility is estimated at $50 million or more.
- The new LCU 1700 class will replace the LCU 1610, currently in service for over 50 years.
- Other selected yards include Boat Builders, Inc. and Saronic Technologies.
- Orange County shipbuilding history includes Levingston Shipbuilding (founded 1859) and Orange Shipbuilding (founded 1974).
Source: The Record Newspapers, reporting a U.S. Navy contract announcement