Page 38: of Marine News Magazine (June 2016)

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COMBAT & PATROL CRAFT

Keith Whittemore,

Executive VP, Business Development elsewhere. Nowhere is that more true chak’s merger with Vigor, Whittemore – environment in which to test drive than in the Middle East, where re- says that the boat represents their ? rm the equipment. Whittemore adds, “It’s gional con? icts persist in a half dozen commitment to this market. hot, it’s sandy – it’s a really vicious en- places, and additional hot spots ? are “We didn’t want to be the carpet vironment. For example, in this arena, daily. As it turns out, Vigor is already baggers with pictures and videos – you you need twice the A/C. Standard gas- there. Whittemore explains, “Vigor have to prove to them what you do. The kets not enough, air intakes and paint

Kvichak has been very interested in reason we built our demo boat (Vigi- all have to be carefully considered.” foreign military markets for many lant) is that we wanted to give the boat This isn’t Vigor Kvichak’s ? rst rodeo years. The U.S. market share is satu- to the local agencies, and have them in the foreign markets; nor is it Or- rated – there’s only so much market tell us how it operated in their missions egon Iron Works. Oregon Ironworks share here to get. Kvichak has a bunch instead of us telling them how great it (now Vigor) has previously exported of it, but if we want to expand, then would be.” In effect, Vigor Kvichak to Israel, for example. For its part, the we need to be marketing overseas.” gives the prospective clients the keys to Kvichak side of the equation has been the boat for two weeks and says, ‘Give selling oil skimmers all over the world it back to us full when you’re done.’ for 25 years. Here at home, the U.S.

Foreign Experience =

Whittemore told MarineNews in May, Navy owns 50 of those skimmers. Be-

Overseas Opportunities

Vigor is putting its money where “Testing our demo boat proved that it yond these shores, Whittemore says its mouth is. Whittemore has been to works quite well for the missions of the the skimmers are in operation in plac- trade shows all over the Middle East, GCC. Kvichak is monitoring over 600 es like Brazil, Poland, Russia, Australia demonstrating their latest boats and data points – cabin temperature, oil and Mexico. Whittemore also points visiting virtually every country in the pressure, you name it – on the boat via to Vigor Kvichak’s experience in the region in the process. The $2.5 million Intranet, downloading to Seattle regu- pilot boat markets. “We have export boat – a 45’ RB-M ‘Vigilant’ – is based larly to con? rm that the boat is operat- experience – this isn’t something new in Bahrain, and at no small cost. Vigor ing correctly. We build the right prod- to us. One of our ? rst signi? cant ex- maintains a local captain, a Middle ucts, and we expect them to work.” port projects for Kvichak involved the

The Middle East has proven to be production and delivery of three 22

East Manager, and local support for the perfect – if not excessively brutal meter pilot boats for Dutch pilots in the operation. In place long before Kvi-

Rotterdam and Amsterdam. These are semi-governmental agencies and for

The RB-M Commercial at a glance … the Dutch to go outside Holland for

Designer: Camarc DesignFuel capacity: Main engines: 495 gallons (2) MTU series 60 (825 BHP) these hulls – especially the U.S. – was a big deal.” He adds, “We gave them

LOA: 44’11”(13.6m)Construction: Marine gears: Twin Disc MG5114SC

All-Aluminum the boat they wanted – not a stock

Beam: 14’7”(4.4m)Top speed: >40 knots Waterjets: Rolls Royce hull or pre-designed form.”

Draft (RFS): 3.0’ (0.9m)Generator: Kohler 9kW Generator: Kohler 9kW

Beyond Kvichak’s success in the

June 2016

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