The following is the text of a news release from Willard Marine Inc.:
(ANAHEIM, Calif.) — The U.S. Navy has exercised an option on its contract for 11-meter rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) with Willard Marine Inc., requesting five more RIBs in addition to the 10 that the Navy had previously ordered in 2014.
Willard Marine will provide three 11-meter open center console (OCC) boats that will be equipped with twin Cummins QSB6.7 380-hp engines, and two visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) boats equipped with twin Cummins QSB6.7 480-hp engines, both versions of which will be paired with Hamilton Jet HJ292 waterjets.
For 37 years, the U.S. Navy has purchased a variety of boats from Willard Marine including nearly 700 11-meter and 7-meter RIBs that are primarily stored aboard and launched at sea from large naval ships deployed around the world. Many 11-meter RIBs have been procured by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard in support of their Foreign Military Sales (FMS) divisions.
“The United States Navy and other military agencies have relied upon Willard Marine vessels for nearly 40 years to safely transport service men and women and enable them to successfully complete their missions, often in very challenging sea conditions,” said Ulrich Gottschling, president and CEO of Willard Marine. “It is with great pride and commitment that we continue building boats that our military can rely upon in all situations.”
Since its founding in 1957, Willard Marine has developed world-class watercraft for the U.S. military, Department of Homeland Security, foreign governments, law enforcement agencies, search and rescue organizations and private companies. Willard Marine is the exclusive builder of commercial vessels originally designed by SeaArk Marine and Crystaliner. Based in California with facilities in Maryland and Virginia, Willard Marine is ISO 9001:2008 certified and the sole American manufacturer of SOLAS rescue boats.
