REGENT opens first Seaglider manufacturing facility in Rhode Island

REGENT Craft has opened what it describes as the world’s first Seaglider manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, marking a transition from prototype development to production for the US maritime technology company.

The 255,000-square-foot facility, located at Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown, will serve as REGENT’s global production hub for its Viceroy passenger vessels and Squire autonomous Seaglider drones. The company expects to deliver its first Viceroy vessels to customers as early as late 2027. Designed to support growing commercial and defence demand, the site will eventually accommodate annual production of up to 75 Viceroy vessels and 300 Squire drones.

We proved the technology and the demand; now we build.

With $340m raised to date and 1 Seaglider Way officially open, we’re moving from prototype to production and putting Seaglider vessels in customers’ hands. This is what reindustrialising America looks like: a cutting-edge facility, a first-rate team, and a product the world wants.
Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of REGENT

Scaling US maritime manufacturing

The factory opening comes as REGENT looks to fulfil a commercial order book spanning six continents while expanding its defence business, which includes $20m in contracts with the US Marine Corps.

As a dual-use technology developer, the company is positioning its vessels for both commercial transportation and military applications. Its Seagliders combine hydrofoiling technology with wing-in-ground-effect flight, enabling them to operate in three modes: floating on the water, travelling above it on hydrofoils, and flying close to the surface.

The new facility incorporates dedicated areas for structural assembly, wing and hydrofoil integration, battery and systems installation, and water-based testing and acceptance. Direct waterfront access will also support continued sea trials. Its layout has been designed to accommodate phased increases in production capacity while maintaining safety and certification requirements.

The opening event, attended by more than 500 representatives from government, defence and business, included live demonstrations of the full-scale Viceroy prototype and the Squire drone on Narragansett Bay. The Viceroy’s demonstration marked its fifth flight and the first time the public had seen the prototype fly in ground effect.

Jobs and investment in Rhode Island

REGENT has pledged to create up to 750 jobs over the next decade, drawing on Rhode Island’s established maritime and manufacturing workforce. The company said it has already reinvested $71.5m into the local economy.

Quonset Business Park, with its history in defence manufacturing and maritime industries, provides a strategic location for the operation. The site was formally renamed 1 Seaglider Way earlier this year in recognition of the facility’s anticipated significance to the region.

The investment also aligns with broader US efforts to rebuild domestic maritime industrial capacity and strengthen shipbuilding capabilities. REGENT said its work with the Department of War supports initiatives focused on manufacturing, maritime security and the restoration of US maritime strength.

For American manufacturers, the facility represents an example of emerging transport technologies moving towards industrial-scale production, bringing together advanced materials, battery systems, marine engineering and aircraft-inspired design within a single manufacturing operation.

With initial Viceroy deliveries targeted for late 2027, REGENT’s next challenge will be translating its technology demonstrations and customer demand into reliable production at scale.