Silver Ships, Theodore, Ala., has completed construction on six 40'x11' riverine
The vessels were designed and constructed as a part of the U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and will be delivered to a Pacific region ally. Each RPB was inspected and accepted by the Navy and await overseas shipment.
The six custom-designed riverine patrol boats are engineered to operate in shallow and hazardous waters. The 40' center-console patrol boats are powered by twin Yanmar 440-hp engines that turn HamiltonJet waterjets. Boats can travel at more than 30 knots with limited operating noise in order to remain stealthy.
The new boats are armed and armored and have been designed to carry 20 personnel — a typical crew of six with 14 additional troops and cargo. Riverine patrol boats are used for foreign and joint force operations on river, coastal and open ocean patrol and interdiction duties. Typically, they are used for counter-terrorism and lawlessness but can also be used for humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, command and control, counter-drug, search and rescue and
“For more than two decades, Silver Ships has remained committed to providing top quality and highly durable aluminum workboats to the U.S. and foreign militaries. We are proud to provide these RPBs to the Navy’s Foreign Military Sales program that meet the highest quality, performance and durability standards,” Shawn Lobree, Silver Ships director of federal programs, said in a statement.
Silver Ships has worked with the U.S. military, creating mission-specific boats for nearly 30 years.
