Page 40: of Marine News Magazine (June 2016)

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COMBAT & PATROL CRAFT

While Vigor/OIW is more heavily is a pure all weather, patrol, search and

The Combatant Craft, Medium invested on the military side of the rescue vessel. Marinette managed the

The CCM, designed by Michael production equation, that’s not to say contract while Kvichak did the design Peters Yacht Design, replaces another that Kvichak hasn’t been active there, and engineering work. Production of legacy hull in the Navy’s tool box, will as well. For example, and in conjunc- the boats was split between both par- be used in a variety of roles, mostly tion with Marinette, Kvichak previ- ties and Whittemore reports, “It was a probably involving getting special ously helped deliver 174 RB-M boats very successful project for all parties, operations troops in and out danger- to the U.S. Coast Guard. The RB-M including the customer.” ous environments. Other tasks might entail reconnaissance, anti-terrorism, unconventional warfare and other similar missions. One of the key en- hancements of the CCM is its use of shock mitigation seating to bet- ter protect its occupants during high speed maneuvers. Early in 2014, Or- egon Iron Works was announced as the winner of the CCM contract, and became the sole provider for the 35 boat deal, of which 5 have been so far delivered. According to Whittemore,

Vigor has the capability of delivering as many as 10 of these craft annually.

A Balanced Formula

Comfortable at home selling into both government and commercial sec- tors, Vigor’s business plan also proves that U.S. builders – in niche markets – can compete overseas. Already a prov- en provider of military grade workboat hulls to domestic governments – mu- nicipal and federal alike – Vigor now looks to leverage its considerable for- eign export signature in the same mar- kets overseas. As the U.S. market for this kind of hull softens, Vigor’s Mid- dle East footprint is just one of many places they have looked to place their hulls outside the country.

As MarineNews went to press, the

Of? ce of Management and Budget (OMB) completed its review of the draft ? nal rule entitled Inspection of

Towing Vessels, also known as “Sub- chapter M.” That’s nominally good news for shipyards, especially ones in the smaller, workboat space. But, in this challenging climate of low price oil, that relief will take a while to ramp

June 2016

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