Latest news with #Saronic
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to ditch Santorini and Mykonos for beautiful crowd-free island
The absence of mass tourism means you can connect with Greek island life and enjoy the company of likeable locals without the hustle and bustle of the country's holiday hotspots British holidaymakers often default to Santorini or Mykonos when planning a Greek island getaway, drawn by the stunning beaches, whitewashed villages, iconic sunsets and buzzing nightlife. But while these islands have become victims of their own popularity — crawling with tourists, commercialised and increasingly expensive — the lesser-known isle of Hydra offers a crowd- and car-free alternative promising a more authentic, tranquil and enriching escape. This Saronic gem, renowned for its calming atmosphere and absence of automobiles — the sole exception to the vehicle ban is bin collection trucks — is located just an hour and a quarter from Athens. Without honking horns and revving engines, the tiny island exudes a rare peacefulness that encourages visitors to mellow out and truly unwind. On Hydra, goods and luggage are transported by donkeys and mules — it houses the largest herd of working equines in the world. Cat lovers are also in for a treat, as Hydra's streets are full of friendly felines. Much of Hydra's charm lies in its preservation of traditional Greek island life. The absence of mass tourism means you can wander whitewashed lanes, marvel at the and Neoclassical mansions, discover hidden courtyards and enjoy the company of likeable locals without the hustle and bustle. Even in peak season, Hydra remains blissfully uncrowded compared to its Cycladic cousins. Hydra has long been a haven for artists, writers and musicians. The legendary Leonard Cohen famously lived there for several years, drawing inspiration for this song Bird on the Wire (1969) from the island. Today, the island continues to attract creative souls, with contemporary art galleries nestled alongside historic heritage sites. The Deste Foundation Project Space, perched above the sea, hosts edgy exhibitions, while the Historical Archive Museum offers a deep dive into Hydra's pivotal role in the Greek War of Independence. The rugged landscape is ideal for exploration, with over 300 chapels and monasteries scattered across Hydra. Hiking enthusiasts can wander scenic trails through the isle's olive groves and along dramatic cliffs. The coastline is dotted with hidden coves and pebbly beaches, many of which are only accessible by boat — perfect for those seeking solitude and unspoiled swimming spots. Adventurous visitors can also try diving among ancient shipwrecks or join local fishermen for a traditional line-fishing experience. Unlike Santorini and Mykonos, which often require long ferry rides or chaotic airport transfers, Hydra is a straightforward 75-minute catamaran journey from Athens' port of Piraeus. As soon as you arrive, you'll be immersed in a world that feels both ancient and alive. So while Santorini is famed for its volcanic caldera views and stunning sunsets, and Mykonos its buzzing beach clubs, Hydra invites you to slow down, decompress and connect with the simple joys of Greek island life.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unmanned undersea vessels eyed by Pentagon as key part of Navy growth
As pressure rises on the U.S. Navy to boost its shipbuilding capacity, the Pentagon has released a call for a new type of undersea vessel called the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform, or CAMP, an unmanned system built 'to maximize operational effectiveness in contested environments,' according to the solicitation released by the Defense Innovation Unit. This new class of remotely operated vessel aims to take the Navy's capacity for undersea warfare to the next level — maneuvering in GPS-denied environments at a range greater than 1,000 nautical miles and diving to more than 200 meters underwater during missions, one of which would include dropping 'various payloads to the sea floor.' Integrating AI technology into U.S. shipbuilding comes as part of a widespread effort to revitalize an industry described by the Government Accountability Office as lingering in a 'perpetual state of triage.' The nation's shipbuilding industry has been trailing far behind China and recently gave rise to concern about whether the U.S. would be able to replace disabled or sunken ships in a near-peer combat environment. The Navy plans to boost its number of battle force ships over the next three decades from 296 to 381 vessels. While the CAMP initiative is expected to be cost effective and 'minimize surface expression and duration,' it must also be designed for transport, deployment and recovery with 'commonly available commercial freight and transport equipment,' the solicitation stated. The CAMP document comes on the heels of recent undertakings by private industry to venture deeper into autonomous shipbuilding to address growing demand. HavocAI recently announced the upcoming launch of a 38-foot unmanned vessel known as the Seahound. Additionally, Saronic Technologies, an autonomous vessel startup company, announced its acquisition of Gulf Craft, a Louisiana-based shipbuilder, last week. The company retained the shipbuilder's current workforce and has stated that it aims to create over 500 jobs within the next three to four years. Saronic also announced the debut of a 150-foot autonomous surface vessel (ASV) called 'Marauder.' The vessel is designed to travel up to 3,500 nautical miles or loiter for over 30 days, according to a company release. In February, Saronic raised $600 million in funding to achieve its goal of building Port Alpha, a shipyard for autonomous vessels. And in March, the company announced a partnership with Palantir Technologies to enhance vessel software capabilities. 'By revitalizing our industrial base right here in Louisiana, we are taking a critical step toward building our own supply chains and countering foreign competitors like China,' said House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, according to the release. 'All of this is essential to our national security. We are grateful to Saronic for their commitment to this industry and our great state.'
Axios
17-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Austin-based Saronic to build 150-foot drone boats
Austin-based defense startup Saronic purchased boatmaker Gulf Craft, securing it a Southern shipyard where it plans to produce a new unmanned warship, Marauder. Why it matters: President Trump has promised new ships "very fast, very soon" in a national address — and now an Austin firm is poised to play a big role. State of play: Last year, Saronic acquired a roughly 420,000-square-foot production and manufacturing facility in Austin to build autonomous vessels. Saronic's acquisition of Gulf Craft gives it 100 acres in Louisiana, at which it can construct larger vessels. Marauder will be 150 feet long — much larger than the 24-foot Corsair, its heftiest drone boat to date. What they're saying:"If we just say, 'Hey, we're going to go build ships the way they've always been built, and we're just going to recreate the workforce that existed 70 years ago,' we're not going to get there as a country," CEO Dino Mavrookas told Axios. "Our goal — our vision — is to have this product released within the next 12 months." He declined to share financial details of the Gulf Craft acquisition. The intrigue: Marauder is being developed "ahead of government contracting," according to Mavrookas. "We're investing private capital to build very, very quickly," he said. "We're not sitting around for three, four, five years waiting for requirements to be written." The vessel is expected to have a payload capacity of 40 metric tons and be able to travel up to 3,500 nautical miles. It has potential commercial applications, as well. Think port-to-port logistics and offshore resupply. Between the lines: Saronic counts among its investors Joe Lonsdale, the Austin billionaire venture capitalist who helped establish the Austin-based America PAC, through which his friend Elon Musk spent roughly $200 million to support Trump. What they're saying: Saronic's new project is a "critical step toward building our own supply chains and countering foreign competitors like China," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Axios in a statement.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gallatin AI raises $15M in seed funding to advance military logistics
Gallatin AI emerged from stealth mode on Tuesday and announced it has secured $15 million in a pre-seed funding round led by venture capital firm 8VC. The Washington-based defense technology startup aims to transform military logistics using AI to improve the speed and effectiveness of critical supply chain decisions, company officials said. 'We're entering this new era … whether it's the Houthis and cost-effective drones and rockets, whether it's great power competition in the Pacific, there's real concern that supply lines have never been more vulnerable, and we lack a current generation of predominantly software-based capabilities, AI capabilities, that will allow more rapid decision making in order to move the right things to the right places at the right time,' Woody Glier, CEO of Gallatin AI, told FreightWaves in an interview. Gallatin AI was founded by Glier, Daniel Buchmueller and Brian Ballard in 2024. Its leadership team combines expertise from major technology and defense organizations, including Palantir, Scale AI and Amazon, as well as the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence AI intends to use the seed funding to accelerate its technology development and team expansion in its offices in Washington and El Segundo, California. Gallatin is looking for hires specifically in engineering and deployment-facing roles to scale its platform across military services. 8VC officials said they have seen an expanding gap between commercial logistics innovation and military capabilities. Gallatin AI was incubated through 8VC's Build program, which has launched defense unicorns Epirus and Saronic. 'We partnered with Gallatin's team to close that gap, bringing commercial-grade AI and automation to the Department of Defense's most urgent logistics challenges,' Alex Moore, partner and defense lead at 8VC, said in a news release. In addition to 8VC, the seed round included participation from Silent Ventures, Moonshots Capital, Timeless Partners and Banter flagship solution is Navigator, which focuses on accelerating resupply workflows through real-time data integration, AI-generated courses of action and simulation capabilities, aiming to enable military personnel to sustain operational advantages through predictive analytics and automated decision support. 'We're targeting operational resupply … . [I]t's the daily calculation of food, fuel, water, batteries, medical supplies … . [I]f those supplies don't move from the operational distribution points to the tactical edge, our troops can't move. They can't stay ready and able to project force and deterrent capability wherever it's needed,' Glier said. As they developed Navigator, Gallatin AI officials interviewed hundreds of retired military logisticians, who often discussed a concept referred to as the shadow inventory. 'So logisticians, they're building their own algorithm. It could be that Alpha Company, they eat more food, and their standard food resupply is slightly higher. Another unit might go through more water, or they have more fuel generation needs,' Glier said. 'So Navigator is sort of taking that shadow inventory concept, trying to move it out of the logistician head. Give them full control over the decision that they end up making. But we can start building interesting algorithms and agents that start looking at more specific consumption patterns and then start seamlessly learning. With usage you start to generate useful insights and a much more fine tuned understanding of consumption and demand through the system.' Funding detailsGallatin AIAmount Funding roundLead investorSecondary investorsGoal for round Disclosure: 8VC is an investor in SONAR. The post Gallatin AI raises $15M in seed funding to advance military logistics appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Saronic unveils plans for autonomous shipyard
Texas-based Saronic Technologies announced Tuesday it raised $600 million in private funding to build an autonomous shipyard it's calling Port Alpha. The company plans to use the facility to grow its fleet of medium- and large-class autonomous surface vessels amid demand from the Pentagon for more drones of all kinds, including ships. 'It is going to be the most advanced shipyard in the world,' CEO Dino Mavrookas told reporters. 'We're going to build it right here in America. We're going to build it from the ground up.' Saronic hasn't yet picked a site for Port Alpha, but the company is working with state governments throughout the U.S. to find the right fit. Texas and the Gulf Coast are among the regions the firm is closely exploring, according to Mavrookas. The company declined to offer specifics on how much the project would cost, saying only that it planned to funnel 'billions and billions of dollars' toward the effort over its lifecycle. Mavrookas would not commit to a timeline for when the facility would open its doors, but said he expects it to be operating 'well within five years.' 'This is not something that we're just thinking about,' he said. 'Our goal is to get it open as fast as possible with shipbuilding production lines, rolling things out and into the water.' Founded in 2022, Saronic has raised more than $850 million and is valued at $4 billion. In just three years, the firm has developed three uncrewed vessels: Spyglass, Cutlass and Corsair — a 24-foot-long boat that it unveiled last October. The company sees its systems as a solution to the U.S. Defense Department's push for more uncrewed systems and Port Alpha as a means for boosting the Navy's shipbuilding capacity. The service's latest 30-year shipbuilding plan calls for 381 battle force ships — an increase from its current fleet of 295 — and an additional 134 unmanned surface vessels over that time period, including 40 large-sized vessels. The service is also pushing toward a fully operational unmanned fleet by the mid-to-late 2030s. At the same time, the Navy's shipbuilders are struggling to maintain cost and schedule requirements, many of them years behind on delivering due to a number of factors, including a shrinking workforce and a lagging supply chain. Asked whether he expects Port Alpha to put additional strain on that base, Rob Lehman, Saronic's chief commercial officer, said the autonomous vessels the company is building won't rely on the same manufacturing techniques, hardware and workforce that traditional shipbuilders developing manned platforms. 'We're looking at a new class of vessels with a new way of building them, unburdened by some of the constraints that the current shipbuilding industrial base is hindered by,' he said. 'We plan on approaching the Navy with ideas, concepts and capabilities rather than just waiting and being told what to do.'
