The Vice President has highlighted the necessity of bringing shipbuilding and manufacturing jobs back to the United States. Speaking on the country's dependency on foreign nations, the Vice President stated, "We've depended far too long — for 40 years — on other countries on our pharmaceutical supply chain, on our ship supply chain, the weapons that our troops use. We became too reliant on other countries to make our stuff." This statement was made in conjunction with the groundbreaking of Geronic's new $3.2 billion Port Alpha shipyard in South Texas.
Rebuilding America's Maritime Strength
Geronic is spearheading a significant effort to rebuild America's shipbuilding capabilities, with a focus on closing the competitive gap with China. The initiative is not merely about increasing the number of ships but also aims at enhancing technological competencies to deliver "real capabilities, at scale, to our war fighters, as fast as possible." The Vice President stressed the importance of evolving America's defense capabilities, particularly in view of recent military engagements.
Autonomous Technology in Focus
The need for advanced technology in naval operations was underlined with reference to ongoing military engagements, namely the war with Iran. It was revealed that Ceronic's autonomous drone boat played a crucial role in rescuing two downed Apache pilots in the Strait of Hormuz and was subsequently used in an offensive action on an Iranian port. Discussing the implications of these operations, the Vice President expressed support for the development of autonomous ships. "Autonomous ships is a great idea because you can go in and do the job of a sailor at a very high degree of skill, but without endangering Americans in the process," the Vice President remarked.
