Metal Shark has delivered four new high speed patrol boats to the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard in Aruba, the company announced on 30 January.
The vessels will be used for patrol in the territorial waters of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St Eustatius, St Maarten and Saba.
The 38ft Defiant-class welded aluminium monohull patrol boats are powered by twin Cummins Marine QSB6.7 diesel engines coupled with counter-rotating dual-prop stern drives. The vessels can reach a maximum speed of 45kt.
A fully-enclosed pillarless glass pilothouse arrangement provides protection as well as unhindered visibility to the crew. An anti-fatigue floor covering has been placed in the pilothouse and the belowdecks crew spaces. The boats are equipped with a full suite of navigation electronics including a Raymarine radar, GPS and multifunction display, and a FLIR thermal-imaging system for night operations.
The composite armour panels provide ballistic crew protection and the shock-mitigating seating can accommodate six personnel. The crew accommodations include an enclosed head compartment, galley and v-berth for extended patrols at sea.
The vessels will enter service following activation and crew instruction by the company’s training team.
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