(ANAHEIM, Calif.) — Willard Marine has delivered the first two of up to 60 MK4 11-meter rigid-hull inflatables (RIBs) for the U.S. Navy.
The boats, built in Anaheim under a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, are used for a variety of missions on Navy surface combatants. The RIBs are equipped with Cummins diesel engines, Hamilton waterjets and Shockwave shock-mitigating seating for improved crew comfort.
In 2016, the Navy and Willard Marine reached a licensing agreement for a Willard boat design — the Sea Force 1100 — to serve as the guideline for the Navy’s new 11-meter RIB program. The Navy pursued the agreement in an effort to maximize commonality between the old and new 11-meter RIB platforms, and to minimize time and money spent on boat operations training, maintenance, repair and service.
The new RIBs will be used in U.S. fleets around the world. Through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, Willard Marine has also provided Sea Force 1100s to foreign militaries such as Lebanon, Mexico and the Ukraine.
Since its founding in 1957, Willard Marine has developed watercraft for the U.S. military, Department of Homeland Security, foreign governments, law enforcement agencies, search and rescue organizations and private companies. Willard Marine is also the exclusive builder of commercial vessels originally designed by SeaArk Marine and Crystaliner. Based in California with facilities in Maryland and Virginia, Willard Marine is ISO 9001:2008 certified and the sole American manufacturer of SOLAS rescue boats.
