Metal Shark to construct welded aluminium cutters for US Navy

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’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

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.

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.

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.

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“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,” said Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard.

The NCPV fleet will be constructed at Metal Shark’s waterfront shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana.