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Ribcraft lance and interdiction in shallow coastal and riverine waters, its low draft, high maneuverability and 45-50 knot speed for day and night operations are all key features of the boat.

Separately, the Kuwaiti Ministry of the interior earlier this year placed an order with Tampa Yacht for as many as 29 Fast Coastal Interceptor craft for the Kuwaiti Coast

Guard. The 14.42M craft are powered by Man R6-800 diesels rated at 1600hp, has a top speed of 55+ knots at full load and a range of over 300 nautical miles at 38 knots.

Outlook: Middle East, and Closer to Home “2016 to 2025 looks great for boat builders and FMS clients because of tremendous demand from the Middle East – Saudi

Arabia and others – for the U.S. Navy to deliver,” Shah of

Swiftships said, adding, “The Saudi Navy, for example, already has a fully-funded Letter of Request for Lockheed’s Littoral

Combat Ships, and that leaves 13 billion riyals in the Saudi budget for more naval ships and services.” Lockheed Martin is based in Maryland and Texas. “Middle East needs will cer- tainly increase opportunities for boat builders,” Shah said.

Elsewhere, local municipalities and federal needs are keeping domestic builders busy. Multi-missioned, reliable and affordable boats capable of being customized to meet a wide range of tasks remain in demand, here and overseas.

And, U.S. builders are happily supplying them. Neither scenario is expected to change, any time soon.

Susan Buchanan is a New Orleans-based business writer, specializing in energy, maritime matters, agriculture, the environment and construction. She holds a master’s degree from Cornell University in agricultural economics and an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. www.marinelink.com