(WASHINGTON and THEODORE, Ala.) — Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has awarded Silver Ships a $16.3 million firm-fixed-price order for the procurement of 10 Navy 11-meter surface support craft and 26 Coast Guard special purpose craft (law enforcement generation 2).
Work will be performed at Silver Ships’ yard in Theodore, Ala., and is expected to be completed by April 2027. The award is being made under an October 2021 NAVSEA contract covering up to 110 vessels, including options that, if exercised, would bring its cumulative value to $51.6 million.
The Naval Special Warfare surface support craft (SSC) contract entails construction of five variants of the Ambar series of rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). The support craft are aluminum deep-V hull boats with a protective collar.
Variants of the SSC include both open center console and cabin versions, in addition to the SPC-LE2 variant. These craft are used from inland bays and waterways to deep water over-the-horizon transits, operating in all conditions. The Navy SSC vessels will support the Naval Special Warfare community via ocean diver and swimmer support, medical transport, vessel towing and water airdrop training, among other missions.
The Coast Guard SPC-LE2 vessels are armed and will be operated in varying conditions along the length of the borders of the United States and the Caribbean.
Typical SPC-LE2 missions involve intercepting suspicious vessels entering U.S. waters, and the vessels will also be used for port security and other missions. An additional vessel variant under advanced design and production is the 11-meter cabin version.
