Davie Defense Finalizes Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Acquisition

Davie Defense—a U.S. defense shipbuilder and part of Inocea, a privately held British-based marine industrial group with operations spanning the United States, Canada and Finland—announced December 3 that it has closed the acquisition of Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation’s shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. The completion of the transaction includes all required U.S. government approvals, including a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

The acquisition makes Davie Defense America’s newest specialized shipbuilder—backed by Davie Shipbuilding in Canada and Helsinki Shipyard in Finland—at a time when the Trump administration is prioritizing the Arctic. The acquisition reinforces Inocea’s presence in the U.S. as Davie Defense advances its capabilities and prepares to compete for major programs, supporting the administration’s broader focus on revitalizing American shipbuilding.

Gulf Copper will continue to operate as a leading repair and fabrication center, backed by its experienced management team and workforce, who will remain in place. Its work, including the recently expanded scope on the Flight III Arleigh Burke–class destroyer units (WJ, November 12), underscores its capability to execute complex, high-precision defense projects in Texas. Kai Skvarla, CEO of Davie Defense, will assume the role of CEO of Gulf Copper, with current CEO Steve Hale staying on in an advisory role to ensure a smooth transition.

On October 9, 2025, the presidents of the U.S. and Finland signed a memorandum of understanding on icebreaker construction at the White House. This was followed, on November 18, by a joint statement of intent between the U.S., Canada and Finland to advance shipbuilding and Arctic defense collaboration under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact), a trilateral initiative first announced in July 2024.

Skvarla, incoming CEO Gulf Copper, said, “This acquisition confirms Davie Defense as a permanent part of the United States shipbuilding industry. We are proud to be an American shipbuilder, and the new Texas facilities, which have over 350 existing employees, will be key to expanding our U.S. operations. Our focus is simple: deliver the capability, capacity and ships that America urgently needs. While others debate new approaches, Davie Defense is executing—building polar icebreakers, looking at other opportunities to grow our workforce and applying decades of proven expertise to support our Coast Guard and government partners.”

James Davies, co-founder, Inocea Group, said, “Closing this acquisition is a defining moment in our Group’s journey. We are now truly transatlantic, operating across the United States, Canada and Finland, and we are proud to welcome the Gulf Copper team as part of our U.S. presence. This milestone was made possible by leaders and supporters who fought to reopen the door to renewed industrial strength, new opportunities for American workers and a revitalized national shipbuilding capability.”