FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: [May 4, 2026]
Location: Philadelphia, PA
A new waterfront pier restores critical maritime transportation capability to Philadelphia’s Navy Yard.
Modernized Pier Enables Roll-On/Roll-Off Transport of Completed Submarine Modules
Rhoads Industries announced today the completion and grand opening of the newly built Pier 6A, a major infrastructure project that completely replaces the pier behind Buildings 57 and 57A with a larger, high capacity structure designed for modern naval manufacturing needs. The restored pier marks a significant milestone in Rhoads’ expanding support of U.S. Navy submarine programs and strengthens Philadelphia’s role in the nation’s defense industrial base.
The current Pier 6A had been unusable for more than twenty-five years—overgrown, structurally compromised, and unsafe for even basic access. As Rhoads’ naval workload accelerated, including the fabrication and outfitting of steel deck modules for U.S. Naval Submarines in Building 57, the need for a functional waterfront became urgent. The company’s establishment as the Philadelphia Focus Factory for US Navy submarine construction required a pier capable of handling large loads weighing up to two million pounds and three stories tall. The opening of brand-new Pier 6A supports this need and aligns with Rhoads’ projected expansion to more than 1,500 employees within five years, building on the 650 existing Rhoads employees at the end of 2023.
The new Pier 6A is engineered as a high-capacity roll-on/roll-off structure, enabling the safe and efficient movement of completed submarine decks and modules from the manufacturing floor to barges bound for Navy test sites or final submarine assembly shipyard locations. This capability is essential to the ongoing expansion of Rhoads’ naval submarine Philadelphia Focus Factory programs, including the existing 140,000 square feet in Building 57 and the 90,000 square feet in the Building 57A high-bay facility under construction and slated for delivery in mid-2027. The pier’s increased size, loadbearing capacity, and direct alignment with Buildings 57 and 57A streamline logistics, reduce transport timelines, and position Rhoads for additional submarine work and future phases of waterfront development.
LEADERSHIP QUOTE
“Pier 6A is more than a new structure—it is a strategic asset that restores Philadelphia’s waterfront to its historic role in supporting the U.S. Navy,” said Mike Rhoads, President of Rhoads Industries. “This high-capacity pier allows us to drive completed submarine modules directly onto transport vessels, accelerating delivery schedules and strengthening our ability to support the Navy’s submarine enterprise.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ABOUT RHOADS INDUSTRIES
Rhoads Industries is a Philadelphia-based industrial manufacturing and services company specializing in fabrication, machining, and complex project execution. With more than a century of experience, Rhoads is committed to craftsmanship, innovation, and building strong careers in the skilled trades. Learn more at rhoadsinc.com.
