Davie has announced plans to acquire two Texas shipyards from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing for an undisclosed price.

In addition, Davie plans to invest approximately US$1 billion in upgrading and expanding the shipbuilding facilities once the proposed purchase is complete.

Based in Quebec, Davie is a leading builder of icebreakers and other specialized ships.

If all goes according to plan, the acquisitions will mark the Canadian firm’s expansion into the U.S. The proposed deal is expected to close by summer 2025, pending regulatory approvals and land-lease negotiations with the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees.

“We share a vision with Gulf Copper to make Texas a world-class hub for American icebreaker and complex ship production,” said James Davies, president and CEO of Davie. “Texas is ready to lead a new golden age of American shipbuilding—backed by our commitment to delivering ships on time, on budget, and in service of national-security priorities.”

The acquisition supports U.S. federal priorities, including the Maritime Action Plan and the Ships for America Act, and would bolster the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter program, said Davie. With operations already in Quebec and Helsinki, Davie’s move into Texas would enhance its ability to support the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) and help the U.S. close its Arctic capability gap, the company added.

The U.S. currently operates only three Arctic-ready icebreakers, compared to Russia’s fleet of nearly 50.

“For the first time in decades, complex shipbuilding could return to Galveston and Port Arthur—this time backed by one of the world’s fastest-growing specialized shipbuilders,” said Gulf Copper CEO Steve Hale. “Davie brings a bold vision: to make Texas the cornerstone of their U.S. expansion. That means opportunity for our employees, our partners, and our communities.”

Davie’s production-ready icebreaker designs are tailored to meet U.S. mission requirements and promise faster, more cost-effective delivery. The US$1-billion modernization project could generate about 4,000 American jobs—roughly 2,000 directly at Gulf Copper and another 2,000 throughout the supply chain.

Davie previously collaborated with American shipbuilders on U.S. Navy Nimitz class aircraft carriers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

Paul Barrett, Davie’s chief communications officer, told The Globe and Mail that the firm announced the proposed deal after word of spread locally in Texas. He also told his interviewer that broader geopolitical dynamics, including U.S. President Donald’s Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports, and Prime Minister Paul Carney’s pledge to consider shifting some Canadian defence spending away from the U.S. did not affect the timing of the announcement.

Davie said the proposed acquisition has received “strong support in Washington,” apparently referring to U.S. federal politicians. In an apparent sign of support, former U.S. president Joe Biden’s administration announced in July 2024 that Davie was in talks to make a “major investment” in a U.S. shipyard.