Shipbuilding & Marine Manufacturing Companies in South Dakota

South Dakota has approximately 900 manufacturing establishments and 46,000 manufacturing employees. South Dakota's manufacturing sector is led by food processing operations in Sioux Falls, with additional strength in metal fabrication and agricultural equipment.

South Dakota contributes to the national shipbuilding & marine manufacturing landscape. Shipbuilding and marine manufacturing includes naval and commercial shipyards, boat builders, and marine equipment producers. The US shipbuilding industry is anchored by the Jones Act, which requires vessels operating between US ports to be domestically built. Major shipyards like Huntington Ingalls and General Dynamics NASSCO build naval vessels and commercial ships, while hundreds of smaller yards produce workboats, tugs, barges, and recreational vessels.

Naval Shipyards: Major facilities like Huntington Ingalls and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works building aircraft carriers, submarines, and destroyers.

Commercial Shipbuilders: Shipyards producing container ships, tankers, offshore supply vessels, and ferries for domestic service.

Workboat & Barge Builders: Smaller shipyards constructing tugboats, towboats, barges, and inland waterway vessels.

Recreational Boat Builders: Companies like Brunswick and Malibu Boats producing powerboats, sailboats, and pontoons.

Marine Equipment Suppliers: Manufacturers of marine engines, propulsion systems, deck equipment, and navigation systems.

Major industrial centers in South Dakota include Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen. These cities have concentrations of manufacturers across sectors including food processing manufacturing, metal fabrication, and agricultural equipment manufacturing.