Bremerton-based SAFE Boats International landed has landed a $35 million contract to provide the United States Navy with five brand new state-of-the art patrol boats.
The company will build the five 78-foot MK VI Patrol Boats, with an option for a sixth vessel, at a facility in Tacoma that sits on the water. The boats could not be built at the company’s headquarters on South Kitsap Industrial Area land because they cannot be transported over the road. Some 100 new workers, in addition to the company’s existing 275-person workforce, will be hired to build the boats.
“We are thankful to have the opportunity to manufacture and support a craft which will bring back the venerable and storied ‘Patrol Boat’ class to the US Navy” said Scott Peterson, CEO, SAFE Boats International. “We are intimately aware of the history of the ‘PB’ and are excited to be a part of the next chapter in the story of this versatile class of US Navy craft.”
The MK VI PB, which is known as Mark Six, is the Navy’s next generation patrol boat and will become a part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s (NECC) fleet of combatant craft. NECC will utilize the Mark Six to provide operational commanders a capability to persistently patrol shallow littoral areas beyond sheltered harbors and bays, and into less sheltered open water out to the Departure Sea Area (DSA) for the purpose of force protection of friendly and coalition forces and critical infrastructure.
The 78-foot Mark Six is a variant of the versatile 780 Archangel class patrol boat built by SAFE Boats and has a hull optimized for performance, fuel economy and firepower. Systems are designed to reduce total ownership cost, minimize manpower and improve reliability and maintainability. Powered by twin diesel engines and waterjets, the MK VI PB is capable of speeds in excess 30 knots at full load and can be armed with a variety of crew served and remotely operated weapons systems up to 25mm. She has a range in excess of 600 nautical miles and the ability to burn both marine grade diesel fuel and JP-5. Berthing accommodations, galley and head/shower facilities allow for extended missions.
The MK VI PB is configured with both a pilothouse and a main deck cabin. The pilothouse is configured with shock mitigating seating with integrated work stations for the crew. The work stations are integrated into the seats to bring controls and displays into suspension with the operators thus reducing fatigue and preventing injury. The main cabin is reconfigurable to allow for the accommodation of remotely operated vehicles, a temporary medical triage area and/or shock mitigating seating for a boarding team and off-duty crew.
The SAFE Boats “large craft production facility” located in the Port of Tacoma on the tide flats was originally developed to build ships for the US Navy during WWII. The size and configuration of the facility will allow for up to six of the new boats to be under construction simultaneously. Loca
SAFE Boats International offers a wide range of craft from 18-80 feet. configurable to a wide variety of pleasure, commercial, law enforcement and military requirements together with the training and service to support them. For more information about the Archangel and the entire SAFE Boats product line visit: www.safeboats.com.
