To enhance U.S. commercial and defense maritime capabilities, five well-known U.S. ship repair and marine service providers – Vigor Marine, Continental Maritime, MHI Ship Repair & Services, Seaward Marine Services and Accurate Marine Environmental – have officially merged and changed their name to Vigor Marine Group.
This new group is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and its establishment is an important strategic move by the United States to strengthen its national maritime infrastructure, with a particular focus on enhancing key capabilities in the defense and commercial fields.
Francesco Valente, CEO of Vigor Marine Group, said, “Each of our member companies is renowned for its innovation, quality, and reliability. Now, we will serve our customers by combining the strength of our national platform with the responsiveness of local shipyards.”
The formation of the new group stems from a complex merger and acquisition process. Its integration history can be traced back to 2019, when The Carlyle Group and Stellex Capital Management jointly established Titan Acquisition Holdings to integrate a number of its maritime assets. In 2020, the portfolio was further expanded with the addition of Continental Maritime of San Diego. In 2023, Lone Star Funds became the controlling party, completing an important equity change.
Following the merger, Vigor Marine Group owns five shipyards and eight dry docks, including the largest floating dry dock in North America, with a total wharf length of over 5,000 meters. The new group has 2,600 skilled employees in five states in the United States and occupies an important position in key maritime fields.
The group has been awarded several high-profile national priority projects, including participating in the U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer Modernization 2.0 program, leading Washington State Ferries’ $4 billion zero-emission transformation program, and working with the U.S. Army to develop the next generation of landing craft.
In terms of operational structure, the group is mainly divided into three divisions: maintenance and retrofitting, maritime services and shipbuilding. The maintenance and retrofitting division operates shipyards in Portland, Seattle, Ketchikan, San Diego and Norfolk; the maritime services division focuses on professional businesses such as oil tank cleaning, wastewater treatment and underwater hull services.
Emphasizing the Group’s expanding capabilities, Valente said, “As the largest maintenance and modernization group on the West Coast of the United States, one of the leading manufacturers of aluminum hull combat boats, and a top partner for cruise ship and naval maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) services, we have excellent growth potential.”
The combined company will serve the U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, U.S. Army, Coast Guard, cruise operators and interstate ferry systems.