Metal Shark to construct welded aluminium cutters for US Navy

<p>American shipbuilding company Metal Shark has been awarded contract by the US Navy to develop near-coastal patrol vessels (NCPVs) for the US partner nations. The shipbuilder was selected from a field of six competing shipyards by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and was subsequently awarded with the $54 million contract through the US Department of Defense&rsquo;s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.</p> <p>The deal will see the Metal Shark constructing up to thirteen 85ft-long Defiant-class welded aluminium cutters for the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and other US partner nations.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/NCPV_Navy%201_edit.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="387" /></p> <p>Under the contract the shipbuilding company will also be responsible for delivering electro-optical infrared sensors, diagnostic equipment, in-country reactivation, crew familiarisation and test support to NCPV operators. The new vessels are customised to address the NCPV programme's specific requirements.</p> <p>The aluminium cutters can accommodate several mission profiles such as search and rescue, border patrol, police and customs duties, counter-narcotics operations, and securing waters of economic importance.</p> <p>{googleAdsense}</p> <p>&ldquo;The NCPV award is the first result of a multi-year collaboration between Damen and Metal Shark...The Damen team has consistently provided us with outstanding technical support, their designs are thoroughly proven in service across a range of markets, and their global service network has proven to be a very powerful selling feature,&rdquo; said Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard.</p> <p>The NCPV fleet will be constructed at Metal Shark&rsquo;s waterfront shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana.&nbsp;</p>