The Regio Cantiere di Castellammare di Stabia (Royal Dockyard of Castellammare di Stabia) was founded in 1783 by Sir John Acton, Prime Minister of Ferdinand IV of the Kingdom of Naples.

Its first vessel, the Neapolitan ship of the line Partenope, was completed three years later.

The shipyard was initially unable to build more than one ship of the line and a frigate simultaneously until it was enlarged by order of King Joachim Murat in 1808.

The shipyard was absorbed by the Naples-based holding company, Navalmeccanica, in 1939.

Almost totally destroyed during World War II, the dockyard had to be rebuilt before it could resume operations.