Christiansted Shipyard Wins $763K Federal Boost for Vessel-Lifting Equipment

St. Croix Marine Center in Christiansted has received $763,401 in federal funding to buy heavy-duty equipment for lifting and moving vessels within the shipyard. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration as part of the fiscal year 2026 Small Shipyard Grant Program.

The company, operating under the legal name Dirty Bottom LLC, plans to purchase a 75-ton Model 75BFMII variable-width Marine Travelift. This machinery will allow the facility to haul boats weighing up to 165,000 pounds for maintenance, repair and storage work.

The Christiansted operation was the only US Virgin Islands recipient among 45 shipyards nationwide that shared $35.18 million in federal support across 24 states and the territory. According to the Maritime Administration, these grants aim to modernize smaller shipyards, boost productivity, create jobs and strengthen the nation's maritime industrial base.

Federal funding under the program typically covers a maximum of 75 percent of project costs, requiring recipients to pay the balance themselves. Congress allocated $35 million to the Small Shipyard Grant Program in 2026, a substantial rise intended to build up domestic maritime capacity. The Maritime Administration announced the awards in August.

St. Croix Marine Center also holds a separate federal contract worth $25,000, awarded in September through the Department of the Interior's Southeast Region for marine vessel repair and maintenance services. That contract runs through September 2027.

Federal records do not indicate when the new Travelift will arrive or begin operating, nor do they reveal the company's total project cost beyond the federal contribution.