Colonna's Shipyard

Colonna's Shipyard was established in 1875 by 26-year-old ship carpenter Charles J. Colonna on the south bank of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia. It describes itself as the oldest continuously family-owned and operated private shipyard in the United States and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2025.

Milestones include the Inside Machine Shop (1920, still in operation), the first floating dry dock "The Captain Will" (1987), a second dry dock "Bill III" (early 2000s), a $20 million yard expansion with the 1,000-metric-ton Travelift (2009) and the third floating dry dock "The Charles J. Colonna" (2016). Steel America was founded in 2000, Colonna's Shipyard West in San Diego in 2015 and Weld America in 2020; Accurity Industrial Contractors of Owensboro, Kentucky was acquired in 2023. Norfolk Barge traces its origins to the Norfolk Lighterage Company of 1917.