Thames Shipyard & Repair

What Thames Shipyard & Repair does

Thames Shipyard & Repair Co., Inc. is a privately held, family-owned commercial shipyard operating from two adjacent facilities on the Thames River in New London, Connecticut: a North Yard at 50 Farnsworth Street housing two floating drydocks (Dock #1 at 400 ft x 130 ft x 40 ft with 7,500 long-ton capacity; Dock #2 at 150 ft x 72 ft x 28 ft with 800-ton capacity, currently being expanded by 24 ft in length and 20 ft in width), 1,200 ft of pier berthing space at 15+ ft MLLW, a 12,000 sq ft machine and fabrication shop, a 2,400 sq ft carpenters' shop, and a dedicated hazardous-materials paint storage building; and a South Yard at 2 Ferry Street serving as corporate headquarters with engineering offices, CAD stations, a 20,000 sq ft fabrication/assembly/storage building, and launching ways. The yard provides full-spectrum commercial shipbuilding and repair services for steel and aluminum vessels up to 400 ft in length and 10,000 tons displacement, including new-build construction, drydocking, haul outs, re-powering, overhauls, shell plating, structural modifications, welding (AWS-qualified procedures accepted by USCG, ABS, Lloyd's Register, and DNV), sandblasting, EPA NESHAP-compliant painting, machining (shafts, propellers, bearings), and diesel/gas engine and electrical repair, executed by an entirely non-union, in-house workforce covering 25+ skilled trades.

The company serves three primary customer segments: commercial vessel operators (ferries, fishing vessels, pilot boats, tugs, dredges, barges, long liners, small freighters, and tankers), federal and state government agencies (U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USDA, Connecticut DOT), and new-build vessel buyers. Revenue is generated through project-based, quote-driven fees for shipyard services and hardware, supplemented by federal grant funding via the MARAD Small Shipyard Grants program (a 2010 grant funded the Number 2 drydock expansion; a 2023 grant of $309,853 funded equipment, capacity, and safety investments). The Wronowski family has owned the business since 1967, with John P. Wronowski serving as Owner and President and his son Adam Wronowski as Vice President, both personally involved in contract execution. Marketing is limited to a basic website and earned-media congressional site visits; customer acquisition is driven by long-standing regional reputation and direct relationships.

Name

Thames Shipyard & Repair

Legal name

Thames Shipyard & Repair, Co., Inc.

Website

https://thames-shipyard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Thames Shipyard & Repair is a family-owned commercial shipyard in New London, CT operating two floating drydocks (up to 400 ft / 10,000 tons) and providing new-build, drydocking, repair, and re-powering services for steel and aluminum commercial vessels across the U.S. Northeast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Shipbuilding & Repair

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Ship Repair & Drydocking (TLAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mechanical Systems Repair (Engines, Propulsion, Pumps) (TLAKAKAF), Dry Docking & Dockyard Operations (Graving/Floating Docks, Docking Services) (TLAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Commercial shipbuilding
• Marine repair services
• Vessel drydocking
• Floating drydocks
• Ship new construction

Headquarters

HQ city

New London

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Commercial Vessel Drydocking & Repair Services: Project-based fee-for-service revenue from drydockings, haul outs, and repairs on ferries, fishing vessels, pilot boats, tugs, dredges, barges, long liners, small freighters, and tankers. Hundreds of commercial vessel drydockings and over 100 haul outs in the past five years.
2. New-Build Construction: Revenue from new-build commercial vessel construction in steel and aluminum, alongside re-powerings and overhauls.
3. Federal Small Shipyard Grants: Federal grant funding (Small Shipyard Grants / MARAD) to support equipment purchases, capacity increases, safety improvements, and ongoing restoration projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Thames Shipyard & Repair operates a full-service commercial shipyard on the Thames River in New London, CT, providing new-build construction in steel and aluminum along with drydocking, maintenance, repair, re-powering, and overhaul services for commercial vessels. Two floating drydocks (400 ft / 10,000 tons and 150 ft / 1,000 tons) accommodate vessels up to 400 feet in length, supported by in-house machine, engine, welding, fabrication, electrical, and painting shops. The company serves ferries, fishing vessels, pilot boats, tugs, dredges, barges, long liners, small freighters, tankers, and federal/state government marine assets.

Product overview

Thames Shipyard & Repair Co., Inc. operates a single integrated shipyard platform — not a multi-product SaaS — anchored by two complementary facilities (North Yard with the drydocks and South Yard with corporate offices and fabrication). The core offering is commercial vessel new-build construction and full-scope marine maintenance, repair, drydocking, re-powering, and overhaul services for steel and aluminum vessels up to 400 feet and 10,000 tons displacement. Supporting capabilities — Welding and Fabrication, Sandblasting and Painting, Machine and Engine Repair Shop, and the Number 2 Drydock Enhancement Project — function as specialized service modules within the unified shipyard platform, all executed by a non-union in-house workforce at the New London, CT facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Vessel New-Build Construction Complete new-build capabilities for all types of commercial vessels in both steel and aluminum, performed alongside the shipyard's maintenance and repair work. Backed by AWS-qualified welding procedures accepted by USCG, ABS, Lloyd's Register, and DNV, and supported by in-house fabrication, machine, and engine shops.
• Marine Maintenance & Repair Services Full-scope marine maintenance and repair services ranging from regular drydocking maintenance, sandblasting, and painting to extensive shell plating, structural and superstructure replacements and additions, diesel engine repairs, and electrical repairs. Paints applied in accordance with CT DEP regulations and EPA NESHAP standards.
• Drydocking Services Drydocking services using two floating drydocks at the North Yard — Dock #1 (400 ft, 10,000 tons capacity) and Dock #2 (150 ft, 1,000 tons capacity) — capable of accommodating vessels up to 400 feet in length and 10,000 tons displacement.
• Vessel Re-Powering and Overhauls Re-powering and overhaul services for commercial vessels including ferries, fishing vessels (party and commercial trawlers), pilot boats, tugs, dredges, barges (deck, scow, crane, and petroleum), long liners, small freighters, and tankers. The shipyard has safely conducted over 100 haul outs and repairs in the past five years.
• Machine and Engine Repair Shop In-house machine and engine repair services covering machining of shafts, propellers, and bearings; diesel and gas engine repair (Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, Cummins); and licensed electrician services for marine electrical systems.
• Welding and Fabrication Welding and fabrication services in steel, aluminum, and stainless steel (all grades), using SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, MIG, and TIG processes including pulse-arc and short-arc power supplies. All procedure specifications, qualification records, and welders are approved by the American Welding Society (AWS) and accepted by USCG, ABS, Lloyd's Register, and DNV. A-36 grade certified steel plate is used for mild steel applications.
• Sandblasting and Painting Services Sandblasting and spray painting services using 3-ton sandblasting pots with rotary internal pipe blasting nozzles, six Graco airless spray paint pumps (ratios up to 60:1), and associated spray painting equipment. All painting performed in accordance with CT DEP regulations and EPA NESHAP standards, with paint inventory stored in a hazardous-materials-standard building.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two floating drydocks accommodate vessels up to 400 ft in length and 10,000 tons displacement
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• American Welding Society (AWS)coreOthersAll of Thames Shipyard's welding procedure specifications, procedure qualification records, and welders are approved and qualified by the American Welding Society ("AWS"). These procedures and qualifications are also accepted by the United States Coast Guard, the American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd's Register, and Det Norske Veritas.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Crescent Towing & Salvage (Crescent Shipyard): Louisiana-based marine services company with shipyard capabilities for repair and new-build of tugboats and small commercial vessels. Comparable in small commercial vessel focus.
• Blount Boats: Warren, RI-based commercial shipbuilder specializing in steel and aluminum vessels for ferries, tugs, fishing, and government clients. Closely comparable small-to-mid Northeast shipyard with similar end markets and customer profile as Thames.
• Washburn & Doughty: East Boothbay, ME shipyard building and repairing commercial vessels including tugboats, ferries, and fishing boats. Similar small commercial Northeast shipyard with comparable capabilities and customer mix.
• Senesco Marine: North Kingstown, RI marine construction and repair yard serving commercial and government customers with drydocking, new-build, and fabrication services. Direct peer operating in the same Northeast corridor.
• Colonna's Shipyard: Norfolk, VA commercial and government ship repair yard with floating drydocks and full marine repair services. Comparable in service mix (drydocking, repair, fabrication) though somewhat larger.
• Detyens Shipyard: Charleston, SC full-service ship repair and conversion yard. Comparable in service mix and target end markets (commercial and government), serving a different but adjacent geography.
• Metal Trades Inc. Hollywood, SC shipyard providing new construction, repair, and machine shop services for commercial and government marine customers. Similar capabilities mix to Thames.

Broad incumbents

• Vigor Industrial: Largest U.S. Pacific Northwest ship repair and new-build operator with multiple yards. A broad incumbent in commercial and government marine services — comparable category but materially larger scale and geographic reach.
• General Dynamics NASSCO: San Diego, CA shipbuilder specializing in auxiliary and support ships for the U.S. Navy and commercial tankers/containerships. Broad incumbent in shipbuilding and repair — overlapping category but significantly larger and focused on big-hull programs.
• Aker Philadelphia Shipyard: Philadelphia, PA commercial shipyard building Jones Act container vessels and product tankers. Broad incumbent in U.S. commercial shipbuilding with significantly larger vessel capacity than Thames.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thames-shipyard

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thames Shipyard & Repair