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SHIPBUILDING ing unprecedented immigrant migrations from the embattled sold a 61 ft pilot/rescue boat. And Freeport Harbour Company countries in the Middle East to Europe.” Looking ahead, he (Bahamas) took a 52-foot V-Hull all aluminum pilot boat. sees likely top regions for export over the next ? ve to ten year Separately, the Colombian Navy was a customer for seven time horizon as being Central and South America, Southeast 56-foot V-Hulled “Chesapeake Class” patrol boats (with a top

Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. But, not everyone speed of 27 knots), delivered in 2015. necessarily shares his enthusiasm. For his part, Morris sees more exports on the horizon, point-

CEO Shehraze Shah of Swiftships, another builder of boats ing to signi? cant international interest (in particular from with an enviable export record, offered a more cautious view, Colombia, Mexico and a group of Caribbean nations) for its saying, “Since 2014, defense exports have been on a serious newly unveiled Multi-Mission Interceptor- a 35 ft. aluminum downward trend. This can be attributed to several reasons: boat with top speeds in excess of 55 knots.

First, oil is the main commodity for most of defense clients Like Swiftships Shehraze Shah, Gladding Hearn’s Duclos of- (Middle-East, South America, and Africa), and the slump in fered another more cautious assessment, telling MarPro, “The oil prices have put orders on a screeching halt.” He added backlog at the yard currently spans 12-14 months … our order that, “Secondly, the US Political Military Policy for defense book, consisting of six passenger ferries and three pilot boats, is product(s) towards emerging allies causes major set-backs all domestic, except for some small sales of parts.” Addressing due to policies being so-rigid.” the export markets, he added, “The prospects for exports are

When asked about factors at play in its business, SafeBoats’ not looking good at the moment. The biggest effect on export

Morris explained that: “To date, SAFE has built and exported we see is the strength of the US dollar against other curren- vessels to over 60 countries. We foresee a striking increase cies. Our focus is on Central/South America and the Caribbean in the market in the international sector in the next few years countries. There seems to be a preference for these countries to with a trend in procurement away from the material of ? ber- do business in the US rather than Europe or Far East.” glass towards aluminum due to life cycle costs, durability and In the meantime, West Coast-based Vigor isn’t sitting on its performance.” One such outlet for SafeBoats, for example, hands. The acquisition of Kvichak (2015) and before that, Or- has been the Royal Jordan Navy Command. egon Iron Works (2014) has quietly positioned Vigor to vie in

Morris adds, “Another example of our international busi- the ? ercely competitive government patrol and combat mar- ness is a total of 10 patrol vessels delivered or on order for kets, combining the experience of both and the economy of the Israel Marine Police. The Israel Marine Police (IMP) con- scale of a state-of-the art metal processing facility in South tract for the last three of ten was signed in late June. The IMP Seattle. Today, the old OIW and Kvichak are collaborating un- models of choice include the 27 Full Cabin, 31 Walk Around der the Vigor Banner, sharing design and engineering resourc-

Cabin, and the 25 Center Console.” es, product development and marketing resources, and each

Swiftships and SafeBoats are hardly the only players in this performs production and fabrication support for one another.

market. Peter J. Duclos, President and Director of Business Utilizing bar codes, waterjets and lasers in their south Seat-

Development at Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding/ Duclos Cor- tle building, all pre-fabrication work for the small boat line is poration in Somerset, Mass, detailed his yard’s involvement accomplished. Vigor’s Keith Whittemore says Vigor’s facility in both commercial and military exports in recent years. No- is second to none. “There is no other metal processing facility tably, the yard has exported ferries to Bermuda, where it also like it in the United States. We scan inventory parts in and out

Gladding Hearn 52 Maritime Logistics Professional 3Q 2016| | 50-63 Q3 MP2016.indd 52 8/17/2016 10:20:35 AM