Swiftships News

L3Harris Technologies said it has received a contract from the U.S. Navy for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MUSV) program. The $35 million initial award is part of a $281 million program that includes a prototype and options for a total of nine MUSVs. The program is the Navy’s first for a USV to support the Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations strategy.L3Harris will integrate the company’s ASView autonomy technology into a purpose-built 195-foot commercially derived vehicle from a facility along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.

GoM shipyards are meeting the demand for right-sized, multi-mission boats. In the last decade, Gulf Coast shipyards have watched demand for multi-mission vessels grow from foreign governments and U.S. authorities. In particular, local counties and municipalities – pinched by shrinking budgets and expanding mission sets – began the march to leverage a single hull for more than one task. And, since these boats can serve military or civilian needs, the need for boatbuilders to quickly adapt a standard hull form to a particular requirement became a highly desired skill set.

U.S. shipbuilder Swiftships, LLC has partnered with Virginia-based technology solutions company ICS Nett Inc. (ICS) to continue research and development efforts on the Anaconda, a Special Operation Craft Riverine (SOCR). Together, ICS and Swiftships will strive to transform the Anaconda into a completely autonomous watercraft equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities that is faster and has more complex maneuverability than its predecessor. Phase one of the Anaconda began with a partnership between Swiftships and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2014…

On June 28, 2016 Louisiana-based Swiftships, LLC, was awarded a $15 million firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract involving Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to procure four 28-meter KITs for the Egyptian Navy (EN). The contract will allow Swiftships to procure KITs so the EN can assemble/coproduce these 28m coastal patrol craft (CPC) in Alexandria, Egypt. The 28m CPCs will include: 4.7-meter rigid inflatable boats, forward looking infrared system, diagnostic equipment and contractor engineering technical services.

Export hulls – through the FMS Program, as well as Direct Sales – are a key piece of the business model. Even as the crash in energy prices feeds the oversupply of offshore support vessels – a key staple of U.S. boatbuilding diets – and the dwindling backlogs of some so-called ‘second tier’ yards,  a number of U.S. boat builders are still seeing robust demand for security vessels. Separately, tightening federal, state, municipal and overseas budgets are being trumped by the increased need for security craft that can perform more than one function.

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.

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington has announced that Tidewater Marine International Inc. has sold its44.2m x 8.1m x 3.6m depth / 1.7m draft, 168mtdw, high-speed, aluminum crew / supply vessel Merlin Tide\ to private European operators for continued operation in oilfield service. Built by Swiftships Shipbuilders LLC of Morgan City, Louisiana for Tidewater as Hull 524 in 1999, the vessel is powered by five 956kW Cummins KTA 38M2 diesels developing a total of 6…

U.S. companies continue to land lucrative contracts with domestic and foreign customers for vessels that are designed or specially customized to meet defense, police and anti-piracy needs. Governments here and abroad, meanwhile, continue to cut budgets. Many of the security craft to be delivered this year are built to save energy, reduce emissions and reach higher speeds and greater cruising ranges than their predecessors. They have the latest tracking and communications systems. And a few new vessels are remotely operated.

The US Department of Defense informs that Swiftships Shipbuilding, L.L.C., Morgan City, Louisiana, is being awarded an $18,000,000 not-to-exceed contract for the accomplishment of continuous lifecycle support for the Iraqi navy. DoD explains that this contract involves foreign military sales to Iraq, and will provide technical expertise in preventative and planned maintenance, emergent repairs, and platform overhaul support services for Iraqi patrol boats, off-shore vessels, and defender boats. Work will be performed on Umm Qasr Naval Base, Iraq, and is expected to be completed by October 2015. FMS funding in the amount of $9,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and the contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The sea trials of Rodi Marine’s crewboat, the M/V Riley Claire, have given Marine Jet Power a major breakthrough in the Gulf of Mexico crewboat market. The trial results show that all performance predictions were reached. The DP2 Certified Crewboat, built by Swiftships LLC, is powered by four MJP 650 CSU water jets. During sea trials in June, the M/V Riley Claire reached a peak speed of 30.3 knots in lightship condition and 24.0 knots fully loaded. The vessel’s MJP waterjets are powered by four Cummins QSK 50 engines…

Last month, Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, in Morgan City, La., showcased the Anaconda-2 – an unmanned, 35-ft. craft in development – during a demonstration on the Atchafalaya River next to its HQ. The company partnered with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette more than a year ago to produce technology for a vessel that can navigate without a pilot aboard. Swiftships and ULL are designing a boat that uses Global Positioning System/sensory data, and has the potential to support naval, enforcement and zone-protection operations, mainly on inland waters.

Building patrol boats is big business, especially for foreign defense needs. U.S. yards compete on a global stage in the all-important maritime security workboat arena. Patrol boats have continued to enhance bottom lines at many U.S. vessel builders this year through sales that are usually government directed or assisted. Budget cuts are a concern, but the sector’s federal funding remains high. Patrol boats are sold to other nations under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales or FMS program, authorized by the Arms Export Control Act to provide defense items.

Joe Kernan, Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.) has recently been appointed to the Board of Advisors of Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, a leading supplier of military and commercial watercraft to clients across the globe. Vice Admiral Kernan (Ret.) served in various leadership positions in the Department of Defense, which included Commanding Officer, SEAL Team Two, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, Commander US Fourth Fleet, and Senior Military Assistant to former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

Delta Wave Communications, LLC, has announced that it has been selected by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC to provide marine navigational electronics and a dynamic positioning (DP-2) system for two Swiftships 175’ fast supply vessel (FSV) new builds. The vessels, which will be operating in the Gulf of Mexico in support of the oil and gas industry, will allow for expanded capabilities in deep water operations. It is a part of Swiftships expanding newbuild program, in which they offer custom quality small- to medium-sized vessel constructed of aluminum or steel…

Marcon International Inc. reported the sale of two 105’ x 22’ x 8’ depth, aluminum crew boats by a private U.S. Owner to Mexican buyers. The triple screw, sister-vessels were built in 1981 and 1982 by Swiftships, Inc. in Lafitte, Louisiana. Both are powered by three turbocharged GM 12V71TI diesels, generating a total of 1,530BHP at 2,100RPM, which propels the boats at a speed of 20 – 25kn. Capacities include about 34 LT of cargo on an open 43’ x 17’ cargo deck aft, 2,400g fuel and 1,000g fresh water.

Patrol And Combat Builders Fret About Budget Cuts But See Bright Spots. So far; so good. U.S. companies building patrol and combat craft aren’t happy about federal, state and city budget cuts but say they do see positive, demand-side factors. Much of their overseas business depends on the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. The FMS, which transfers defense equipment and services to other nations, is retrenching now, however. Here at home, states and municipalities have fewer funds, grants and matching grants to pay for patrol vessels, builders say.

Foreign Demand For U.S. Military And Commercial Vessels Is Brisk; For Now. In the heavy shadow of possible sequestration-induced federal budget cuts, some U.S. companies are busy supplying vessels to overseas customers under the Navy’s Foreign Military Sales program and through private contracts to foreign government and firms. Demand for offshore oil vessels is strong. A big chunk of overseas business now is under the U.S. FMS, transferring defense equipment, services and training to other nations. Countries approved for the FMS pay for vessels themselves and/or with U.S. government help.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Co (ASRY) has turned in a profitable first quarter of 2012 despite the continued shipping recession and increased competition in the region. As of the beginning of May ASRY was running at close to capacity and had work in hand for the next 12 weeks. This, says CEO Chris Potter, is quite some achievement in a region which already has plenty of repair capacity, even before two major new repair facilities opened for business recently in Qatar and Oman.

Dubai’s vision as a global maritime hub took another major step forward with the launch of the mixed-use Business District at Dubai Maritime City (DMC) under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, Dubai World. HE Mohammed Al Shaibani, the Director General of HH The Ruler’s Court, Government of Dubai, Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman Drydocks and Maritime World, senior company executives, government officials, representatives of developers participating in the project…

The area directly south of Lafayette, La., is authentic bayou country, known for Cajun culture, excellent food, unique music and, for boat lovers, the crew/supply boat capital of the world. Four boat yards in this area build these multi-engine, all- aluminum, speedy vessels, almost exclusively. Each yard turns out up to six crew/supply boats a year. In fact, three of the shipyards are located within just a few miles from each other in the tiny hamlet of Loreauville, La., a town that seems to be made up mostly of aluminum welders. That, of course, is an exaggeration, but not by much. Not every vessel delivered from these shipyards goes to work supporting the search for oil and gas…

Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Morgan City, La., is being awarded a $13,414,450 firm-fixed price contract for the design and construction of two 28 meter coastal patrol craft for the government of Egypt. The coastal patrol craft is used for coastal surveillance, search and rescue, response to emergency situations, and security assistance. Work will be performed in Morgan City, La., and is expected to completed by May 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-2210).

Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC, Morgan City, La., is being awarded a $180,998,189 fixed-price letter contract for the detail design and construction of nine patrol boats and associated equipment and services for the Iraq Navy. This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Case IQ –P-SAZ and U.S. Case E4-P-LBT. The contract is for nine Swiftships model 35PB1208E-1455 patrol boats along with six 30mm gun weapons systems, machine gun mounts and cradles, spare parts, and contractor engineering technical services. Work will be performed in Morgan City, La., (60 percent), Detroit, Mich., (30 percent), Ocean Springs, Miss., (8 percent) and Charlottesville, Va., (2 percent) and is expected to be completed by August 2012.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract to supply the navigation and communication systems for nine new 114.8 ft patrol boats being built for the Iraqi navy. The $19m firm, fixed-price contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC of Morgan City, La. Work on the contract will be performed by Northrop Grumman’s Ocean Springs, Miss., facility. Under the contract, each of the vessels will be fitted with an integrated bridge system (IBS) based on Sperry Marine’s new-generation VisionMaster FT navigation technology. The IBS will include navigation radars and electronic chart display and information systems running on TotalWatch multi-function workstations.