Gulf Copper Expands Defense Work, to Build Navy Destroyer Components in Galveston and Port Arthur

Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation announced on Monday that it will assist in the construction of components for the U.S. Navy. Under an expanded agreement with Ingalls Shipbuilding, the corporation will help construct components for the U.S. The corporation will assist in the construction of components for the Navy's next-generation destroyers, thereby enhancing Galveston's position within the nation's defense manufacturing network.

The company, based in Galveston and situated on Pelican Island, announced that it has secured a new agreement with Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), based in Mississippi, to produce additional structural units for the Navy’s Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The destroyers represent some of the Navy’s most sophisticated surface combatants, featuring the Aegis Combat System that combines radar, sensors, and computers to manage over 90 missiles and anti-submarine weapons. Every vessel is capable of transporting Tomahawk land-attack missiles, surface-to-air interceptors, and ship-to-ship missiles.

Gulf Copper will divide the project between its facilities in Galveston and Port Arthur, according to a press release from company officials. The financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed.

“Being entrusted by HII with an expanded role on a project of this magnitude is both an honor and a responsibility that we take very seriously,” stated George R. Harris, Gulf Copper’s program manager for the destroyer project and a retired Navy veteran who previously served aboard an Arleigh Burke destroyer. “Supporting the greatest military in the world is genuinely inspiring, and this effort showcases the skill, dedication, and pride of our workforce in ensuring the safety of our service members.”

The expansion is a big deal for Gulf Copper, which has consistently enhanced its defense portfolio over the past few years. Alongside its destroyer projects, the company is set to start producing Arctic icebreaking vessels, thereby expanding its shipbuilding capabilities.

Ingalls Shipbuilding, located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is the largest manufacturing employer in the state and is responsible for approximately 70 percent of the Navy’s surface fleet. The projects encompass the America-class amphibious assault ships and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks.

The announcement arrives as Canada’s Davie Shipbuilding Corporation approaches completion of its acquisition of Gulf Copper, a billion-dollar deal first announced in June. Company officials announced on Monday that the transaction is anticipated to close in the coming weeks.