Bollinger To Finish New SpaceShip

United Launch Alliance has announced that construction of the SpaceShip, the most recent rocket-launching vessel designed and built by Bollinger Shipyards, is almost finished. The vessel follows in the footsteps of the RocketShip, which has been in service for more than 25 years.

Formerly known as the Delta Mariner, the RocketShip has been transporting Atlas V components since 2011 and Delta IV cores for 25 years. The incoming SpaceShip will aid in the transport of Vulcan components which, unlike other rocket stages, are too large to be transported by air or ground shipment.

The SpaceShip will be a 356-foot, roll-on/roll-off vessel used to transport Atlas V and Vulcan rocket elements from the ULA factory in Decataur, Ala., for launch at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vanderberg Space Force Base in California.

According to ULA, the SpaceShip and the RocketShip are the only American ships with the ability to navigate both rivers and open ocean. They are each equipped with living quarters, dining areas, a heli-pad and a machine shop.

Bollinger was awarded the contract to build the SpaceShip for ULA in late 2023. A keel-laying ceremony was held in October 2024, during which attendees expressed excitement over the new addition.

Featured photo caption: Construction of the SpaceShip is nearly complete. (Courtesy of Bollinger Shipyards)