U.S. shipyards are investing in larger travel lifts and cranes to add capacity, improve efficiency and take on bigger projects. The Maritime Administration’s fiscal 2026 Small Shipyard Grant Program awarded $35.18 million to 45 shipyards in 24 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, up from $8.75 million in each of the previous two rounds.

Steiner Shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Ala., added a used 600-ton Marine Travelift, giving the yard 200 tons of extra capacity as it pursues larger ASD tugs. At Carver Marine Steel Works in Coeymans, N.Y., an 820-ton lift helped turn a fleet-maintenance operation into a commercial repair yard, where outside customers now account for about 80% of the work.

In the Pacific Northwest, Brix Marine received grants for four 10-ton bridge cranes and a CNC press brake for its planned aluminum boat factory in Port Angeles, Wash., targeted to open in late 2027, while Seattle’s Delta Marine Industries won an award toward a 620-ton Marine Travelift. MARAD received 172 applications requesting about $162.7 million in the latest round.

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