New London - The tugboat Patricia Ann chugged up the Thames River under a clear blue sky Saturday morning, ferrying Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to a job site that has been sustained and reinforced with state funds.

Keeping true to what state Sen. Andrew Maynard, D-Stonington, said was a campaign promise to improve New London's port system, Malloy Saturday visited the Wronowski family's Thames Shipyard & Repair Co. and Cross Sound Ferry to see firsthand the impact of a $2 million capital improvement grant approved in August.

"It's really important for the governor to come see it in person," said Maynard, chairman of the General Assembly's transportation committee, during the boat trip. "He made a commitment and followed up on it."

It was one of three stops Saturday for the governor, who was to visit the Waterford-based start-up technology company Lumachip Inc. before heading back to New London for a rally with his Democratic supporters at Muddy Waters on Bank Street.

But first, on the Patricia Ann, Malloy took his second tour in just more than a year of the Thames River. Malloy said he continues to be a big supporter of reviving Connecticut's maritime industry, including expanding cargo and cruise ship stops in New London, part of an effort to "maximize the use of the harbor," he said.

By the state pier, under the Gold Star Bridge and past the Coast Guard Academy, the tug pulled up to the shipyard's massive dry dock, which is already being expanded and revitalized with the funds, said Adam Wronowski, vice president of Cross Sound Ferry.

The company received a federal grant of almost $1.5 million in 2010 as well, company spokesman Stanley Mickus said.

Those funds have allowed the company to add about 20 jobs thus far, Mickus said, and will help add at least another 10 as the improvements continue.

Some of those workers were there Saturday, standing on the dry dock in front of a sign welcoming Malloy by thanking him "for supporting our jobs."

"It's all about jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs," said state Rep. Ernie Hewitt, D-New London, who came along for the ride.

Hewitt was happy, and surprised, when he realized that one of the workers there was his next door neighbor.

"I'm glad I could bring you two together," Malloy deadpanned.

Malloy took a short tour of the dry dock, which is large enough to hold ferries, barges and other large seacraft while repairs are made, and shook hands with about 20 oil- and paint-spattered employees, posing for photographs along the way.

Wronowski said it's not just jobs, either. The improvements will make the business more competitive in a field that is crowded up and down the East Coast. On Saturday, a Cape May ferry that travels between New Jersey and Delaware sat in the shipyard, a product of the company's expanded offerings, Wronowski said.

s.goldstein@theday.com