Anaheim-based boat manufacturer Willard Marine has been awarded a contract to supply two newly designed aluminum riverine boats to the army of the South Asia country of Nepal, the company said April 6.
Under the contract, which was issued by the US Navy Foreign Military Sales office, Willard Marine is producing two 31.5-foot aluminum riverine boats, each powered by Yanmar engines and Hamilton waterjets.
Also as part of the contract, Willard Marine is expected to provide comprehensive on-site crew training regarding the design, operation, maintenance and repair of the boats. The vessels will be used by Nepal to perform search, rescue and recovery operations in riverine and flood environments.
This marks the third contract awarded to Willard Marine by the US Navy in the last year, accompanying a five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for seven-meter rigid inflatable boats (RIB) and a contract for 11-meter RIBs.
Along with military-specific RIBs, Willard Marine also produces a wide range of vessels for multiple applications including law enforcement, search and rescue operations and commercial utilization.
“This order from Nepal underscores Willard Marine’s commitment to serve international military agencies with a large variety of mission-specific vessels, both aluminum and fiberglass,” Willard Marine President Ulrich Gottschling said in a statement. “It is always our goal to build the most rugged and reliable boats that our customers can depend upon in the most challenging environments.”
