$30M investment brings new US marine engine manufacturing capacity to Virginia

Rendering of the planned marine engine assembly facility in Chesapeake, Virginia.DMS Defense Maritime Solutions (DMS) plans to invest more than $30 million to establish a new U.S.-based manufacturing operation for medium-speed marine combustion engines in Chesapeake, Virginia. The project will add domestic capacity for assembling, integrating, and testing Wärtsilä engines used for ship propulsion and auxiliary power. The investment is expected to create 32 jobs and expand DMS’s ability to manufacture, finish, package and support the engines throughout their operational lives. The move is aimed at reducing dependence on overseas manufacturing for critical marine propulsion equipment. DMS will use the new facility to support Wärtsilä medium-speed engines, adding U.S.-based capabilities around a technology already used in marine applications. The company said the facility will also provide engineering, testing and lifecycle support for engines supplied to government and maritime customers. The expansion comes as the U.S. seeks to strengthen domestic shipbuilding and maritime supply chains. DMS said the added capacity will improve manufacturing readiness and give government fleet operators greater access to power-generation and propulsion equipment within the U.S. Engines move closer home The planned facility will cover several stages of the engine lifecycle, from manufacturing and assembly to integration, testing, finishing and packaging. DMS will also provide maintenance and other lifecycle services after the engines enter operation. “This is a long-term investment in the people, infrastructure, and industrial capabilities required to support the future of the U.S. maritime sector,” said Noble Davidson, president of Defense Maritime Solutions. “By combining Wärtsilä’s proven medium-speed engine technology with DMS’s U.S. based engineering, manufacturing, and lifecycle-support expertise, our customers will be supported with a resilient, responsive, and sustainable source of critical shipboard power and propulsion capability. Chesapeake has been DMS’s home for more than four decades, and we are proud to make this investment here.” Medium-speed engines are used in ships for both propulsion and onboard power generation. Bringing more of their assembly and testing into the U.S. could allow DMS to respond faster to maintenance and integration requirements while keeping more of the supply chain within the country. DMS already operates from Chesapeake and has facilities in Poulsbo, Washington, and San Diego, California. Its customers include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Building a maritime engine base The investment also supports the objectives of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE Pact, a trilateral agreement involving the U.S., Canada and Finland that seeks to strengthen shipbuilding capacity among the three countries. For DMS, Chesapeake provides access to skilled trades, engineering workers, maritime infrastructure and suppliers, as well as proximity to major fleet and shipbuilding customers. “The Hampton Roads region offers an exceptional combination of skilled trades, engineering talent, maritime infrastructure, suppliers, and proximity to major fleet and shipbuilding customers,” said Davidson. “We appreciate the support of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the City of Chesapeake, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Hampton Roads Alliance as we move this important project forward.” The investment will expand U.S. capacity not only to build and test marine engines but also to keep them operating through repair, overhaul, and lifecycle support. That combination could be important for government fleets that require long-term access to propulsion and onboard power systems. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.