United Launch Alliance (ULA) has partnered with Bollinger Shipyards and Bristol Harbor Group to design and construct a cargo vessel for Vulcan rockets.
The Vulcan is a heavy-lift capability designed for the US Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program to bring satellites from the Pentagon and other American intelligence agencies into orbit.
Under the project, Bollinger will develop a ship with ocean and river-standard specifications.
Construction of the 356-foot (108-meter) vessel is now underway at the company’s factory in Amelia, Louisiana, with an expected completion date of January 2026.
Throughout the collaboration, Bristol Harbor Group will support corresponding engineering and architecture processes to complete the ship.
Once operational, the vehicle will transport the Vulcan rockets from ULA’s center in Decatur, Alabama, to its designated launch sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
“We are pleased to be partnering with two of the best companies in the business to build our second transportation ship,” ULA’s Chris Ellerhorst stated.
“Over the next year, ULA will be doubling its launch rate capacity…to ensure timely deliveries of the rockets to the launch site, we needed to build a second ship to support our transportation needs.”
Maintaining Space Launch Support
According to Bollinger, the resulting vessel will be named “SpaceShip” and will operate alongside its predecessor “RocketShip.”
ULA’s first cargo vessel had been carrying the Atlas V rockets the Vulcan will eventually replace.
The Pentagon retired the Atlas V in 2021 along with the Delta IV rockets in 2024. Together, both systems have completed more than 100 space launches since their induction.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with ULA in support of their increasing capabilities and launch capacity,” Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO Ben Bordelon remarked.
“Bollinger’s skilled workforce is second to none when it comes to designing, engineering and building complex vessels to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, and we look forward to beginning work on SpaceShip to ensure delivery of Vulcan rockets from the factory to the launch pad.”
