Transforming the River Port, LLC Shipyard – Expanding What’s Possible

Bardex to deliver new 25,000Te OmniLift® Shiplift for River Port, LLC. The  system will be operated by East Coast Repair & Fabrication, LLC, expanding the Newport  News facility’s capacity to increase throughput and support multiple vessels on land. 

Goleta, CALIF., September 22, 2026 — Bardex Corporation has been selected to provide a  new shiplift system for River Port, LLC, an S23 Holdings Company, at its Newport News  facility. The shiplift will be operated by East Coast Repair & Fabrication, LLC (ECR), an  affiliated ship repair company, and represents a significant investment in the facility’s future shipbuilding, maintenance, repair, and fleet-support capabilities. 

This will be a brand new dry dock facility and will be a NAVSEA Certified Facility once  complete.

With a maximum lifting capacity of just over 25,000 Te, the system will increase River  Port’s capacity for servicing and repairing ships as well as launching subassembly  modules for Navy ships. 

The project represents a major expansion of regional shipbuilding and repair capacity. Beyond Legacy Shiplift Technology 

As shipyards and maritime facilities around the world prepare for larger vessels, evolving  fleet requirements, and increasing demands on critical infrastructure, the systems that  move and support those vessels must evolve with them. 

The Bardex OmniLift® shiplift will be engineered for the specific requirements of the  Newport News facility, including forty-eight 640Te lift stations and a platform measuring  approximately 450ft x 110ft (137m x 33.5m).

The system will be designed to deliver precise load control, reliability, maintainability,  operational flexibility, and life cycle value. 

Unlike wire rope-based shiplifts, the Bardex OmniLift system uses linear chain jack  technology to provide synchronized, controlled lifting without relying on wire ropes as the  primary lifting medium. In addition, the system will use motion control technology instead  of synchronous motors or variable frequency drives to keep the lift safe, level, and reliable  under real-world conditions. In contrast with wire rope shiplifts, the Bardex OmniLift has a  perfect safety record: Since the company first installed its linear chain jack system, in  1967, there have been zero catastrophic failures, dropped vessels, or reportable safety  incidents. 

“This project is about much more than lifting a vessel out of the water. It’s about giving  River Port infrastructure that can support its mission for decades to come,” said Thomas  Miller, Bardex President and CEO. “We’re proud to bring Bardex engineering and decades  of heavy-load expertise to a project of this importance to the revitalization of American  shipbuilding.” 

A Long-Term Investment in Shipyard Capability 

Along with vessel lifting, the project is being developed to support a rail-based transfer  system with multiple onshore hardstand berths. Once completed, the project will expand  ECR’s maintenance capacity at River Port and enable simultaneous on-land vessel work to  improve fleet availability. 

Bardex will provide engineering design, equipment manufacture, controls, installation  support, commissioning, training, and life cycle support as part of the project. 

Engineering is underway, with commissioning anticipated in September 2028. 

“This investment is about giving our people the infrastructure and capacity they need to  serve our customers more effectively,” said Jorge Rivera, Founder and Chief Executive  Officer of S23 Holdings. “As the operator of the new shiplift, East Coast Repair &  Fabrication will be able to accommodate larger vessels, perform multiple repair  availabilities simultaneously, and provide the Navy and our commercial customers with  greater flexibility and faster turnaround. This is a long-term commitment to our workforce,  our customers, and the future of ship repair in Newport News.”

About River Port, LLC (River Port): River Port, LLC, an S23 Holdings company, owns and is  developing the Newport News maritime industrial facility where the new shiplift system will  be installed. 

About East Coast Repair & Fabrication, LLC (ECR): ECR, an S23 Holdings company,  provides ship repair, fabrication, and maritime industrial services to U.S. Navy,  government, and commercial customers. As the anchor tenant at the River Port facility,  ECR will operate the new OmniLift® shiplift.  

About Bardex: Bardex^® provides novel engineering insights and designs, prototypes, and  manufactures proprietary equipment to solve the marine industry’s heaviest challenges.  For over 60 years – and 300+ projects for shipyards, ports, and the offshore energy  industries, the Bardex mindset has always been to be a trusted, collaborative partner  whose first step in any project is to understand exactly what the client needs to  accomplish. That approach has produced more than 20 patents, many repeat clients, and  countless innovations that make the seemingly impossible possible, while improving  safety, efficiency, and our clients’ profitability for a diverse range of applications. Bardex  manufacturing facilities are ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certified. To learn more,  visit https://www.bardex.com, and follow them on LinkedIn to stay in touch.