Texas shipyard purchased by Turkish consortium for $50M

Sale of 240-acre Gulf Coast facility gives Karpowership affiliate a U.S. base for future projects

A 240-acre shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, has been sold to Karpower Valley LLC, an affiliate of global floating power plant operator Karpowership. (Photo: Port of Brownsville)

Singapore’s Seatrium Ltd. has sold its shipyard at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, to Karpower Valley LLC for around $50 million.

The 240-acre facility, located on the Brownsville Ship Channel, supports offshore and marine engineering projects, including rig repairs and vessel conversions. 

Utilization at the site has declined in recent years as Seatrium shifted resources to its major hubs in Singapore and Brazil.

Karpower Valley LLC, the buyer, is described by port officials and media reports as an affiliate of Karpowership, the global operator of floating power plants. 

Karpowership currently owns 50 powerships — floating power plants that supply electricity to fast-growing energy markets. Karpowership itself is a subsidiary of Istanbul-based Karadeniz Holding.

Seatrium said proceeds from the divestment will strengthen its balance sheet and support projects in liquefied natural gas, offshore wind, and next-generation rig designs.

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The deal underscores the Texas Gulf Coast’s appeal for industrial and energy investors. 

The Port of Brownsville is located 277 miles south of San Antonio at the southernmost tip of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. Brownsville, with its deepwater access and close proximity to Mexico, has also become an increasingly strategic location for companies seeking to expand cross-border operations.

“We look forward to working with Karpowership as they establish operations in our region, and we are confident this new partnership will create meaningful economic opportunities, strengthen our workforce, and enhance the port’s reputation as a hub for world-class maritime activity,” officials for the Port of Brownsville said in a news release.

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Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com