Page 41: of Marine News Magazine (June 2018)

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COMBAT & PATROL CRAFT

Credit: North River Boats a Department of Navy schoolhouse operating under the Recently, North River Boats was contracted to build a

United States Special Operations Command, trains For- new boat for Narragansett Fire Department in Rhode Is- eign Security Forces and other international students on land. The Landing Craft style vessel will be delivered in small craft strategy, operations, communications, weap- late August 2018. The new 31- by 10-foot North River ons, maintenance and instructor development. That kind Fire boat will have a 36-inch wide folding bow door oper- of critical mission demands special equipment and, of ated using electric linear actuators. course, ? t-for-purpose, innovative platforms. North River Separately, North River Boats delivered a new 28 foot by stepped up to deliver. 9 feet, 6 inch North River Sounder Fire Boat to Poulsbo

The SFAC – Large is based off of the very popular Fire Department in Poulsbo, Washington. The ? reboat was

North River Valor FP model, which is the current U.S. based on the popular and commercially reliable Sounder

Navy Force Protection Large vessel. The SFAC – Large has model. With well over a thousand of these boats in the 6” taller sides, an increased fuel capacity and a larger cabin. marketplace, this is by far the most popular hull North

North River won this contract, in part, on its willingness River Boats builds. Also delivered by North River Boats, to make design changes to suit the client. Speci? cally, this their second ? re boat delivered in 2018, to the Biloxi Fire design improvement provides better seakeeping capabili- Department in Biloxi, Mississippi, was a 31 foot by 9-foot, ties and higher freeboard.” 6-inch North River Sounder Fire boat. This ? reboat was

The ? rst two boats are in service at NAVSCIATTS for also based on North River’s Sounder model design.

their training that started in January 2018. North River Boats holds a current 5-year GSA blanket purchase agreement

THE CUSTOMER IS (ALMOST) ALWAYS RIGHT where additional vessels may be ordered by quali? ed agencies.

A common theme to the stories of all three providers is

Diversi? cation is the key at Oregon-based North River that, notwithstanding the amount of innovation that each

Boats. Listening closely to customer needs won the day on has brought to market; all have been able to adapt stan- the multi-hull U.S. Navy contract, but that’s not all that’s dard offerings to the unique requirements of their federal, happening in Oregon. Roseburg, Oregon-based North international and/or municipal customers. Although the

River Boats has, over time, thrived by delivering one of waterfront values cookie cutter, series-build economies, the most diverse vessel portfolios in North America. Those that’s not always easy to do, especially for this sector. It’s offerings include both domestic and foreign deliveries, as also why all three remain busy today – in multiple sectors.

well as recreational, commercial and military hulls.

Municipal customers want multi-missioned hulls that

If that formula has taught them just one thing, then can transcend more than one mission set. Military buy- that metric would be that different customers need differ- ers need next generation solutions to meet the next set of ent features. Like their federal customers, municipal ? rst global threats. Both involve cramming as much equipment responders need affordable and well-designed hulls. As onto each hull as is possible, while still delivering a nimble

North River waits for the green light on the remaining six and versatile platform. Those products are available now.

Navy hulls, that exactly what they deliver today.

All you need to do is ask.

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