Lyon Shipyard to expand, adding 134 jobs

Lyon Shipyard, a 95-year-old family-owned ship repair facility in Norfolk, will spend $8.5 million to expand its operations and add an estimated 134 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

The shipyard plans to increase its capacity to work on commercial ships and vessels that will work on offshore wind farm operations. Virginia competed with Maryland and North Carolina for the project.

“Lyon Shipyard has been a leader in marine repair and industrial services in Norfolk for nearly a century, and its new investment will allow the company to service vessels integral to Virginia’s growing offshore wind industry,” Youngkin said in a statement. “We thank Lyon Shipyard for its long-term partnership with the commonwealth and advancing Virginia’s position as a leading state in this emerging sector on the East Coast.”

Established in 1928, Lyon has two facilities in Norfolk located on more than 30 acres along the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River. The company provides marine electronics repair, barge repair and pier side repairs and hauls vessels out of the water for underwater repairs to equipment including propellers, tail shafts and rudders. The company’s commercial customers include tug and barge operators, dredging and marine construction contractors, ferry and cruise ship operators, research vessels and commercial fishing companies. Its government customers include the Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command and the Maritime Administration.

The company announced a $24.4 million expansion in 2021, during which it added 119 jobs, and it has received several Navy contracts this year, according to Pentagon records, including one for repair, alterations and maintenance for vessels that is valued up to $70 million through September 2027 if all options are exercised. The region is also home to Dominion Energy’s $9.8 billion Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.

“We want to be the change so many other companies just talk about — Lyon Shipyard wants to lead the charge and help transform the socioeconomical landscape for the city of Norfolk and its residents,” Nikole Dunkley, Lyon’s vice president of human resources, said in a statement.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Norfolk and the Hampton Roads Alliance to secure the project for Virginia and will support Lyon Shipyard’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consulting and funding to companies creating jobs to support employee recruitment and training activities.