The following is the text of a news release from Willard Marine:
(ANAHEIM, Calif.) — Willard Marine Inc. recently delivered a SOLAS 670 rescue boat to the U.S. Army to serve aboard the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge McFarland in Philadelphia, Pa.
Outfitted with a Volvo Penta D3 220-hp inboard engine paired with a Hamilton Jet HJ2274 waterjet, the 22-foot SOLAS rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) performs at speeds of up to 26.5 knots and accommodates nine passengers. A Cranston Eagle single-point lifting frame is incorporated into the SOLAS 670 to allow for a more dynamic launch and recovery system. Extensive safety features include a self-righting frame and a 40-ounce, UV-resistant polyurethane collar with a reinforced rub strake.
Willard Marine has manufactured SOLAS 670 vessels to agencies across the United States including the Military Sealift Command, Maersk, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Navy for more than 10 years. Willard Marine also offers a 16-foot SOLAS 490 model and is awaiting Coast Guard certification for a 17-foot SOLAS 540 and a 19-foot SOLAS 590.
The USACE dredge McFarland maintains the navigation channel of the Delaware River and Delaware Bay, and is made available for federal dredge navigation projects anywhere on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States.
“In an emergency at sea, people need a rescue boat they can count on,” said Ulrich Gottschling, president and CEO at Willard Marine. “That’s why military agencies and large maritime operations consistently choose Willard Marine, the only American manufacturer of SOLAS fast rescue boats."
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 also 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.
