The
U.S. Navy has awarded Willard Marine, Inc. (WMI), a five-year contract
to provide two types of 7-meter rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) that will
serve as ready service lifeboats for search-and-rescue missions. The
contract includes a standard craft based on the 7-meter RIB WMI has
been producing for the Navy for 25 years, and a separate version specifically
for LPD-17 class ships, which WMI has also been supplying for a number
of years. Twenty-four vessels have already been ordered under the contract
and the first scheduled delivery begins in March 2015. |
The
terrorist attacks on the USS COLE in October of 2000 and multiple homeland
target attacks in 2001 sparked secondary missions for these craft as
identified in the contract as anti-terrorism/force protection; maritime
interdiction operations; visit, board, search and seizure; safety boat/escort;
and tow and recovery.
A critical operational requirement for these shipboard RIBs is that
each boat must be carried aboard and deployed from a variety of U.S.
Navy ship classes. Thus, the boats will be compatible with a variety
of existing shipboard handling and stowage systems, including traditional
davits and stowage chocks and other class-specific launch, recovery,
and handling systems.
“This contract validates Willard Marine’s position as a
long-time supplier of strong and reliable RIBs to meet the Navy’s
most challenging operational environments and sea states,” said
Ulrich Gottschling, president and chief executive officer of WMI. “Winning
this five-year contract is testament to WMI’s exceptional boat
design and production capabilities combined with our long, collaborative
relationship with the Navy. We consistently deliver what the Navy needs,
on time and on budget.”
The contract specifies a 254-hp inboard Steyr diesel engine with a Bravo
Two X MerCruiser sterndrive. All vessels will be delivered with a Briartek
man overboard indicator system display and antenna, as well as a forward
M60/M240 machine gun foundation.
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