Metal Shark to build NCPVs
Metal Shark has been awarded a foreign military sales contract by the US Navy to construct Near Coastal Patrol Vessels (NCPVs) for US partner nations, the company announced on 23 June. The contract has a potential value of more than $54 million.
Under the terms of the contract, Metal Shark will build up to 13 85-foot Defiant-class welded aluminium cutters for the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and other US partner nations.
The company will also supply electro-optical infrared sensors, diagnostic equipment, in-country reactivation, crew familiarisation and test support to NCPV operators.
Based on Damen Shipyards’ Stan Patrol 2606 design, the new vessels will be tailored to meet the requirements of the NCPV mission.
The NCPV fleet will be built at Metal Shark’s waterfront shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana. The shipyard recently completed the delivery of six 88-foot, high-speed passenger vessels for New York City’s new NYC Ferry Service and also delivered the first six of 18 45’ patrol boats to the Vietnam Coast Guard.
Chris Allard, CEO at Metal Shark, said: ‘The NCPV award is the first result of a multi-year collaboration between Damen and Metal Shark. The Damen team has consistently provided us with outstanding technical support, their designs are thoroughly proven in service across a range of markets and their global service network has proven to be a very powerful selling feature.
‘Metal Shark is eager to begin NCPV construction and showcase our capabilities as we quickly and efficiently build and deliver these state of the art patrol cutters.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
Australia signs US$2.8 billion ship deal with Austal but puts pressure on company to deliver
The A$4 billion Landing Craft Heavy contract for Austal follows on from a A$1 billion deal in December for Landing Craft Medium ships, but the Australian government has made it clear that a contract for Mogami frigates is reliant on the success of these two contracts.
-
Turkey targets Italian market with strategic partnership on USVs and hybrid platforms
Havelsan, VN Maritime and Piloda Defence will collaborate to develop and integrate a range of maritime solutions with a view to secure a first procurement contract in Italy in the first half of this year.
-
Could Asia and the Middle East offer growth opportunities for Italy’s Fincantieri?
Export campaigns for Fincantieri’s submarines and frigates are central to the company’s ambitions as billions of dollars in unawarded contracts come into focus.