Boat Builder News

Louisiana-based boatbuilder Metal Shark has been awarded two U.S. Coast Guard Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts to produce patrol boats for the maritime forces of Cameroon and the Republic of Georgia. Each contract includes a Metal Shark 38 Defiant patrol boat, transport trailer, spare-parts package, and operator training. The vessels will be constructed at Metal Shark's production facility in Jeanerette, Louisiana.The welded-aluminum 38 Defiant is a military and law-enforcement patrol platform designed to support coastal patrol…

Louisiana-based boatbuilder Metal Shark has been awarded a U.S. Government contract to build 13 patrol boats for Vietnam, with options for additional vessels.The contract expands Metal Shark's presence in Asia and builds on the company's successful delivery of 24 purpose-built 45 Defiant military patrol boats to the Vietnam Coast Guard between 2017 and 2020. The 45-foot welded-aluminum vessels enhanced Vietnam's maritime security and law-enforcement capabilities while supporting…

Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC) announced a manufacturing partnership with fellow Florida-based boatbuilder SŌLACE Boats, a partnership designed to enable MARTAC to scale production of its Devil Ray USV platforms by 100 vessels per year, meeting increasing demand signals from U.S. and allied-nation governments as well as supporting national security operations. SŌLACE Boats has an established reputation for designing and building high-performance and high-strength boats.

Croatian shipbuilder Iskra Shipyard has signed a €2.24 million contract to design and build a new high-speed firefighting vessel for the Zadar County Firefighting Association, with delivery scheduled within 12 months.The 15-meter vessel will be built at Iskra’s shipyard in Šibenik and deployed for firefighting operations around Zadar County’s islands, ports and coastal areas. It will also support firefighting, emergency response and civil protection services during maritime emergencies.The project is part of Zadar County’s EU-funded “Resilient Archipelago” program…

Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark, a supplier for the US Armed Forces and allies, and Tocaro Blue, a developer of Al-powered marine sensor processing solutions, have announced a strategic collaboration to embed Tocaro Blue's ProteusCore M Radar processing software into Metal Shark's fleet of High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessels (HSMUSVs).ProteusCore provides operators with advanced radar data fusion, machine learning based object detection and classification, and real-time target tracking, improving ISR and operational safety in maritime environments.

Interest in hybrid government and patrol boats is growing as boat builders demonstrate their many benefits.Launched last year at Seawork, Sweden-based Marell Boats says its M17 Patrol was the star of the show with its hybrid powertrain from Scania and propulsion system by Marine Jet Power.Like others in the patrol boat market, Project Manager Mario Celegin is seeing increasing interest in hybrid patrol boats. There’s a lot of reasons why: near-silent patrolling in electric mode…

While political winds in the U.S. have significantly tampered many ‘green’ projects, Curtin Maritime is domiciled in California, which is globally known for its strict environmental initiatives. To that end, Curtin Maritime inked a contract recently to invest $160m for eight new hybrid-electric tugboats, vessels being built by Snow & Co. and featuring vertically integrated electric powertrains from Arc with Schottel propulsion. Maritime Reporter TV interviewed Martin Curtin, CEO…

The Dominican Navy has received its second 85’ x 19.5’ welded aluminum Near Coastal Patrol Vessel (NCPV), built by Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark.Christened ARCTURUS CG-114 in keeping with the Dominican tradition of naming military vessels after constellations and celestial bodies, the new patrol craft was built at Metal Shark’s Franklin, Louisiana shipyard and officially incorporated into the Dominican Navy during a ceremony at the Port of Sans Soucí on August 31st.

Singaporean aluminum boat builder Strategic Marine has delivered another fast crew boat (FCB) to Truth Maritime Services (TMS) in Thailand.Following the successful handover of the first two Gen 4 FCBs, TMS RANOD and TMS RAMAN, in 2024, these vessels have been operating efficiently and meeting the needs of TMS’s clients.The addition of two more 42-meters vessels underscores the company’s commitment to fleet expansion and enhanced service capabilities in the Southeast Asian and in Middle east offshore energy sector.TMS…

Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark is set to debut its latest unmanned surface vessel at the upcoming Sea-Air-Space military symposium in National Harbor, Maryland, with three days of on-water demonstrations.Metal Shark’s new high speed maneuverable unmanned surface vessel (HSMUSV) is a 21-foot military craft specifically configured for unmanned, human-in-the-loop operation. It has been designed to offer the US Armed Forces and allies a low-cost multi-payload USV solution…

Even though there is still a substantial amount of wooden yacht construction and restoration out there, wooden hull construction has pretty much gone the way of the mastodonts.To find a new commercial wooden vessel project would be quite a challenge. Except if you happen to know Scarano Boatworks. Scarano Boats was founded by brothers John and Rick Scarano in 1986. They are located in an old waterfront fertilizer factory in Albany, New York and, too quietly, have built a variety of boats that boggles the mind. Their portfolio defies description.

Seakeeper’s motion control technology can improve the performance of even the most impressive of workboats. Partnering with Seakeeper and Gladding-Hearn, the Charleston Pilots did just that, once again setting the bar for excellence.On a beautiful Autumn afternoon in Charleston, SC, way back in 2014, MarineNews had the good fortune to attend the christening on the nation’s first dual purpose, rapid response vessel and pilot launch. As the first vessel to be designed for offshore salvage and firefighting requirements…

Annapolis, Md. boatbuilder Ocean Craft Marine has delivered a pair of highly customized 9.5-meter dive/research boats to the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Reef Restoration Program on the Big Island of Hawaii. ʻĀkoʻakoʻa is an inter-agency partnership integrating federal, state, university, and community organizations spanning science, education, management and law enforcement support elements.The specialized Dive Boats will serve as crucial tools in supporting the program’s mission to protect and rejuvenate West Hawaii’s coral reef ecosystems through scientific…

Boatbuilder BRIX Marine announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Port Angeles, Wash.The new facility, spanning over 35,000 square feet will enable BRIX Marine to increase its overall production capacity and expand its product portfolio, the company said. Located along Marine Drive in Port Angeles, the new location will have direct access to the Port Angeles Boat Haven via Marine Travelift.Additionally, BRIX Marine said the development will help strengthen its relationship with the Port of Angeles community and create new employment opportunities in the region.

Port Angeles, Wash. boatbuilder BRIX Marine has launched three custom-built 34-foot foil assist catamarans for Na Pali Experience, a boat tour company in Kaua'i, Hawaii. The three USCG Subchapter "T"  vessels Kulea, Lanakila and Tokihi were designed in collaboration with Jutson Marine Design and feature asymmetric catamaran hulls and midship-mounted hydrofoils for improved performance in varying sea conditions. Each offers seating for up to 20 passengers and one crew member.Each vessel is equipped with twin 300 HP Suzuki outboard engines and a fuel capacity of 2  x 100-gallon tanks…

Port Angeles, Wash. aluminum boatbuilder BRIX Marine announced it will build a new catamaran research vessel designed for year-round environmental research along Connecticut’s coast. Commissioned by the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), the vessel will play a key role in marine and water quality research, expanding on the work of the RV John Dempsey, which has been active in the area since 1990.Built for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)…

Metal Shark, a Louisiana-based boat builder, has delivered the first of two cutting-edge 50-foot welded-aluminum fireboats to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department in Annapolis, Md. These new vessels are set to enhance emergency response capabilities across Chesapeake Bay, safeguarding over 500 miles of shoreline.Designed in-house and built at Metal Shark's Franklin, La. shipyard, the 50 Defiant NXT monohull fireboats feature advanced technology that improves response times, firefighting effectiveness and safety for firefighters, the builder said.

Theodore, Ala. boatbuilder Silver Ships announced it recently expanded to a second location to maximize the efficiency of its boat manufacturing process.Silver Ships, which produces aluminum workboats for military, federal, state and municipal governments as well as commercial applications, said its new manufacturing warehouse is located less than one mile from its original 95,000 square-foot facility and headquarters. The new facility adds 16,500 square feet to its manufacturing process and creates an additional 18…

Bellingham, Wash. aluminum boatbuilder All American Marine (AAM) announced it has delivered a new 74-foot catamaran patrol boat to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Law Enforcement Division.The 74’ x 27.5’ twin-engine hydrofoil-assisted catamaran is equipped to handle near coastal and offshore missions and will support partner agencies. Missions will include multi-day patrols, commercial gear inspection and recovery, fishery enforcement, and marine protected area patrols.

Aluminum boatbuilder BRIX Marine announced it has launched a new custom-built whale watching vessel for Allen Marine Tours, in Alaska.The new vessel, Raven, a 4818-HTC passenger catamaran, is the second vessel BRIX Marine has developed for Allen Marine, following the launch of the Eagle in September 2023.According to the builder, Raven is designed to enhance the whale-watching experience in Alaska’s waters, focusing on passenger comfort, safety, and sustainability. The vessel features a 48-foot hull, a 17’ 6” beam, and a lightship weight of approximately 31,000 pounds.

Silver Ships, a boatbuilder based in Theodore, Ala., announced the successful completion of reactivation and crew familiarization training for four Coastal Fast Response Boats (CFRBs) recently delivered to the Montenegrin Navy. The training, which spanned two weeks, concluded with a graduation ceremony attended by officials from the Montenegrin Navy, the Ministry of Defense, and the U.S. Embassy. U.S. Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke was present to commend the crews and present training…

Annapolis, Md. based boatbuilder Ocean Craft Marine (OCM) reports it has delivered a new firefighting/search and rescue (SAR) boat for first responders in Michigan.Built for water-related incident management and rescue operations on Lake Erie, the 9.5-meter newbuild is aimed at reestablishing the emergency response capabilities of the Monroe Township Fire Department and the neighboring agencies.“This new Fire/SAR boat restores our capabilities to conduct water rescues and firefighting missions on the lake.

Theodore, Ala. boatbuilder Silver Ships said it has recently delivered a newly built fireboat to first responders in Cape Coral, Fla.The Freedom 30 aluminum fireboat is the second vessel delivered by Silver Ships to the Cape Coral Fire Department in the past two years.Powered by twin Suzuki DF350 outboards, the 30-foot-long newbuild includes a walkaround cabin and special features enabling fast, fire response missions. The vessel is equipped with a Simrad electronics package including radar and side scan sonar…