Tampa Yacht Manufacturing Llc News

The Kuwaiti Coast Guard ordered 29 new 44-foot fast coastal interceptor-class (FCI) vessels from Tampa Yacht Manufacturing LLC. For the new builds, the Kuwaiti Coast Guard specified total drive solutions from Twin Disc, featuring Arneson ASD11 surface drives and Rolla propellers. Powered by dual MAN R6-800 turbo-charged engines, developing a total power of 1,600 horsepower, 44-FCI has a top speed exceeding 55 knots at full load, due in part to the surface-piercing design of its Arneson Surface Drives.

Following an extensive evaluation protocol, the Kuwaiti Ministry of the interior has placed an order with Tampa Yacht Manufacturing LLC based in Florida – U.S.A, parent company of Tampa Defence UK and Tampa Defense USA, for 29 Fast Coastal Interceptor craft for the Kuwaiti Coast Guard. The 14.42M craft are powered by Man R6-800 diesels rated at 1600hp. The Tampa Yacht 44 FCI has a top speed of 55+ knots at full load and a range of over 300 nautical miles at 38 knots. With a crew capacity of up to six Coast Guard personnel the craft is equipped with NIJ111A ballistic armour, Areneson Surface Drives, crew served weapon mounts and a comprehensive electronic suite. The first craft will be delivered in September 2015.

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.

Tampa Yacht Manufacturing LLC offers ‘Battle Ready’ products with superior strength, high performance and extended life cycle. Each of TYM’s vessels is designed and engineered to be mission specific. Included in its portfolio are craft in the 9 to 11 meter length, engineered to provide economical and highly effective harbor and near shore defense and law enforcement solutions. TYM also offers several mid-size craft from 12 to 15 meters, designed to be aggressive, robust high performance craft engineered for interception, interdiction and take-down of high speed craft.

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.

Military appetite for powerful and agile smaller platforms heats up. The use of small craft by terrorist organizations and domestic terrorist cells is a worldwide threat as demonstrated by the bombing of the USNS COLE. The attack on Mumbai, India, in November of 2008, brought the danger to the forefront. Nations realized that to combat this asymmetrical small craft threat, a similar small craft defense – not replacing, but in parallel with traditional larger platforms – is required.

Military appetite for powerful and agile smaller platforms heats up. The use of small craft by terrorist organizations and domestic terrorist cells is a worldwide threat as demonstrated by the bombing of the USS COLE. The attack on Mumbai, India, in November of 2008, brought the danger to the forefront. Nations realized that to combat this asymmetrical small craft threat, a similar small craft defense – not replacing, but in parallel with traditional larger platforms – is required.