The following is the text of a news release from Willard Marine Inc.:
(ANAHEIM, Calif.) — Willard Marine Inc., a leading boat manufacturer for more than 50 years, has been awarded a contract to supply the Nepal army with two newly designed aluminum riverine boats.
Under the contract, issued by the U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) office, Willard Marine is producing two 31.5-foot aluminum riverine boats, each powered by Yanmar engines and Hamilton waterjets. Willard Marine will also provide comprehensive on-site crew training regarding the design, operation, maintenance and repair of the boats. The vessels will be used by Nepal to perform search, rescue and recovery operations in riverine and flood environments.
This is the third contract awarded to Willard Marine by the U.S. Navy in the last year, accompanying a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for 7-meter rigid inflatable boats (RIB) and a contract for 11-meter RIBs. Along with military-specific RIBs, Willard Marine also produces a wide range of vessels for multiple applications including law enforcement, search and rescue operations and commercial utilization.
“This order from Nepal underscores Willard Marine’s commitment to serve international military agencies with a large variety of mission-specific vessels, both aluminum and fiberglass,” said Ulrich Gottschling, president of Willard Marine. “It is always our goal to build the most rugged and reliable boats that our customers can depend upon in the most challenging environments.”
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 commercial entities. Willard Marine is the exclusive builder of commercial vessels originally designed by SeaArk Marine and Crystaliner. ISO 9001:2008 certified and the sole American manufacturer of SOLAS rescue boats, Willard Marine is based in California and has facilities in Maryland and Virginia.
