Willard Marine News

Superior, Wis.based patrol, fire and rescue craft builder Lake Assault Boats has opened a 14,800 sq. ft. repair, service and maintenance facility in Portsmouth, Va. Marine industry veteran, Smokey Glover, along with his team of five highly regarded and experienced technicians (all formerly with Willard Marine) will lead and support the operation.The full-service operation will focus on repair, overhaul and maintenance services. The team can be dispatched on an as-needed basis to locations anywhere around the globe.“We are beyond excited to add a large and well-equipped hub facility…

Boatbuilder Willard Marine announced Eugene Hanscom has been appointed general manager.The industry veteran came to Willard in May of 2020 as the director of finance. Prior to that he spent the last six years with Curtin Maritime, a Long Beach-based maritime construction services company, as vice president of finance. Hanscom got his start in the industry by gaining his USCG Masters License and operating charter fishing trips on various vessels berthing at Fisherman’s Landing, San Diego.“I look forward to steering Willard into the next generation of its long history of success.

The United States Navy and Willard Marine have executed a licensing agreement for a Willard Marine boat design to serve as the guideline for the Navy’s new 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB) government design. For 27 years, Willard Marine has designed and built U.S. Navy ship-board RIBs that are 7- and 11-meters in length featuring a wide variety of propulsion, deck and outfitting arrangements. This licensing agreement allows the U.S. Navy to utilize Willard’s Sea Force® 1100, U.S. Navy model RIB design to create an all new Navy 11-meter RIB. The new RIBs will be used in their American fleets around the world, and it enables select international militaries to purchase the vessels through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.

Rigid hulled inflatable boats (RIBs) have come a long way since their initial development in the United Kingdom in the late 1960s. Long noted for their stability and safety in turbulent seas, they have found applications in rescue work and military settings. Willard Marine, Inc. of Anaheim, Calif. has a long history of conventional hulls and RIBs. They currently produce a variety of models and sizes of RIBs from 4.9-meters up to 11.07. As are all the firm’s RIBs, the SEA FORCE 1100 is available with either fiberglass or aluminum deep-V hulls.

Willard Marine, Inc., recently delivered a SOLAS 670 rescue boat to the U.S. Army to serve aboard the USACE Dredge McFarland in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Outfitted with a Volvo Penta D3 220hp inboard engine paired with a Hamilton Jet HJ2274 water jet, the 22’ 5” SOLAS rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) performs at speeds of up to 26.5 knots and accommodates nine passengers. A Cranston Eagle single-point lifting frame is incorporated into the SOLAS 670 to allow for a more dynamic launch and recovery system. Extensive safety features include a self-righting frame and a 40-ounce, UV-resistant polyurethane collar with a reinforced rub strake.

Willard Marine, Inc., a global leader in the manufacture of mission-proven boats, has received an order to produce a 33-foot, fiberglass harbor patrol boat for the Oceanside Police Department in California based on the iconic “Crystaliner” boat design. The order from Oceanside Police Department marks the first Crystaliner to be purchased from Willard Marine since they acquired the licensing and manufacture rights from Crystaliner, which folded in 2012. Willard’s more contemporary Crystaliner design includes new electronic systems, upgraded hull construction and powerful firefighting features. With a length of 33 feet and beam over 10 feet, its large open deck space is ideal for search and rescue missions, law enforcement safety and firefighting operations.

Willard Marine, Inc.was awarded a contract by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to produce a 20’08” rigid hull inflatable boat for the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) to facilitate their fisheries and marine mammal research in the Pacific region. Willard Marine will provide a slightly modified version of their SEA FORCE 730, a military-grade, aluminum, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) that is designed with a deep-V hull for maximum stability in the roughest sea conditions. The 20’08” research RHIB designed for NOAA is constructed in accordance with ABYC standards and Subchapter S requirements, and is fitted with both lift fittings and a lift sling that are designed for hoisting 6,700-pounds of weight with a 6:1 weight ratio safety factor.

Willard Marine, Inc. unveiled its new SEA FORCE 777 this week at the Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, Australia. The military-grade, fiberglass, rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) is 7.77-meters long, 2.74-meters wide and designed with a deep-V hull. The Steyr SE306J38 diesel engine with ZF-63 marine gear powering a Hamilton Jet drive HJ-274 provides 300 horsepower for a nine-member crew and can achieve 32 knots. Nine Ullman Dynamics shock-mitigating seats are installed.

Willard Marine informs it was awarded a contract to provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with three aluminum hydrographic survey launch ships (HSLs). The three 28-foot HSLs will be used to conduct oceanographic surveys with hull-mounted and towed sonar units in U.S. coastal waters. A Cummins QSC8.3 engine capable of 510 HP with a ZF Marine 305-2 transmission will be used to power the boats. Outfitted to support traditional manned survey operations, the HSLs will offer additional flexibility to add unmanned autonomous capability.

The United States Department of State awarded a contract to Willard Marine, Inc., to provide the Philippine National Police Maritime Group with patrol vessels equipped to conduct search and rescue operations along Philippine maritime borders. This contract marks the third time Willard Marine has been chosen to provide military vessels to the Philippines. Willard has also developed boats recently for international military use by the Navy of Ukraine and the Nepalese Army. Willard Marine will provide the Philippine National Police Maritime Group with aluminum, 30-foot patrol boats with twin 480-hp engines and dual water jets, as well as 34-foot patrol boats with 600-hp engines and dual water jets.

The U.S. Department of State awarded a contract to boatbuilder Willard Marine, Inc., to provide the Philippine National Police Maritime Group with patrol vessels equipped to conduct search and rescue operations along Philippine maritime borders. This contract marks the third time Willard Marine has been chosen to provide military vessels to the Philippines, the builder noted, adding it has also recently developed boats for international military use by the Navy of Ukraine and the Nepalese Army.

Combat, Patrol and Law Enforcement Vessels Meet Multiple Missions with varied business plans. U.S. firms building patrol, combat and law enforcement craft are weathering government budget cuts by strengthening ties with clients and public agencies. These unique boats remain in demand because of terrorism, crime, wars, piracy and fire, and most serve multiple missions. As maritime nations beef up their defense capabilities, U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) programs help builders do business overseas.

The U.S. Navy exercised an option on its contract with Willard Marine, Inc. requesting five more 11-meter rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) in addition to the 10 that the Navy had previously ordered in 2014. Willard Marine will provide three 11-meter Open Center Console (OCC) boats that will be equipped with twin Cummins QSB6.7 380-hp engines, and two Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) boats equipped with twin Cummins QSB6.7 480-hp engines, both versions of which will be paired with Hamilton Jet HJ292 water jets. For 37 years, the U.S.

Willard Marine, Inc. has hired Jimmy Sorenson as regional sales manager for the Gulf Coast and Florida. Sorenson served 11 years with the U.S. Coast Guard in many roles including machinery technician and maritime law enforcement instructor, and earned the boat coxswain certification. For the past 14 years, Sorenson managed business for an aluminum boat manufacturer, including proposal and quote development for a team of sales representatives. “Jimmy’s extensive experience with the U.S.

Willard Marine, a manufacturer of aluminum and fiberglass commercial and military boats, will present at the High Speed Boat Operations (HSBO) Forum in Lisbon, Portugal from May 4-6. The HSBO Forum, gathers professionals from around the world to discuss new development, research, technology, operational procedures and equipment for high speed boating. Willard Marine Director of Sales, Bob Beck, will present Operational Risk Management procedures and a method to evaluate risk using a customary U.S. Coast Guard model. Beck will also discuss procedures used by the U.S.

Willard Marine, Inc. has been awarded a contract to supply the Nepal Army with two newly designed aluminum riverine boats. Under the contract, issued by the U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) office, Willard Marine is producing two 31.5-foot aluminum riverine boats, each powered by Yanmar engines and Hamilton water jets. Willard Marine will also provide comprehensive onsite crew training regarding the design, operation, maintenance and repair of the boats. The vessels will be used by Nepal to perform search, rescue and recovery operations in riverine and flood environments.

Willard Marine, Inc. has appointed Mark Lougheed to its engineering team. Lougheed brings more than 25 years of experience in naval engineering and project management to Willard Marine. Lougheed was most recently at Coast Dynamics Group as an Engineering Project Leader developing technology for SHOXS Seats. He was also the Senior Research and Development Engineer at Zodiac Hurricane Technologies, a division of Zodiac MilPro in Canada, where he managed the development of a line of composite and metal stepped hull planing boats.

Willard Marine, Inc., has acquired the rights to design and manufacture Crystaliner boats, a line of surf and rescue vessels that have been an icon on the West Coast for nearly six decades. Crystaliner was founded in Southern California in 1956 by John Norek and specialized in fiberglass recreational and commercial boats that were particularly popular with lifeguards, harbor patrol and rescue operations. Crystaliner is credited with building the molds for the Navy’s first 16’ fiberglass lifeboat, and in 1959, the first fiberglass boat to win the Miami Nassau Race. Although the company closed its doors in 2012, Crystaliners are still being used by law enforcement and lifeguard divisions in the California coastal cities of Long Beach…

Willard Marine, Inc. (WMI) announced it has been selected through a solicitation process to supply a demonstration model of a new, advanced combatant craft for the U.S. Navy under an SBIR contract modification awarded to Structural Composites, Inc. Under the contract, WMI will design, construct and test a fleet-ready version of an advanced combatant craft incorporating foam/fiberglass extrusion technology developed by Structural Composites. The boat will be based on WMI’s standard U.S. Navy MK 3 RIB with a lightweight Steyr diesel engine and sterndrive propulsion.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Willard Marine, Inc. (WMI), a five-year contract to provide two types of 7-meter rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that will serve as ready service lifeboats for search-and-rescue missions. The contract includes a standard craft based on the 7-meter RIB WMI has been producing for the Navy for 25 years, and a separate version specifically for LPD-17 class ships, which WMI has also been supplying for a number of years. Twenty-four vessels have already been ordered under the contract and the first scheduled delivery begins in March 2015.

The U.S. Navy has awarded Willard Marine, Inc. a contract for a new generation of 11-meter RIBs for standard ship’s boat operations. To date, eight standard craft with an Open Center Console (OCC) configuration and two OCC LPD-17 class variants have been ordered. This contract specifies Cummins QSB 6.7-liter 380-hp twin engines paired with Hamilton Jet HJ292 waterjets. Each vessel will have aft seating plus removable seating for additional people on the foredeck and all will be delivered with WING inflatable tubes.

Willard Marine, Inc. has been awarded contracts to develop two new sizes of Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) Fast Rescue Boats (FRBs) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). An inboard-powered 5.9-meter SOLAS rescue boat with waterjet propulsion will be built for the NOAA ship Nancy Foster and a 5.4-meter outboard-powered SOLAS rescue boat is contracted for the Hi’ialakia in Hawaii. The SOLAS self-bailing fiberglass-hull RIBs are gel-coated international orange. Willard Marine will acquire the necessary U.S. Coast Guard SOLAS certification for both vessels.

Willard Marine, Inc., has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with SeaArk Marine, Inc., to build all of its commercial and military boat models, of which 7,000 have been sold worldwide since SeaArk Marine’s founding nearly 60 years ago. Based in Monticello, Ark., SeaArk Marine is family owned and was operated by the McClendon family beginning in 1959, and they experienced great success delivering boats to all 50 states, every U.S. held territory, and over 70 countries around the world.