The U.S. Coast Guard on Jan. 8 awarded four contracts totaling about $3.6 million to acquire demonstration boats that will be used to inform future boat acquisitions.
The contracts were awarded to Birdon America Inc., Denver; Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC, doing business as Metal Shark, Jeanerette, La.; Inventech Marine Solutions, Bremerton, Wash.; and SAFE Boats International, Bremerton.
Under the contracts, each company will deliver one Response Boat-Small (RB-S) demonstrator boat within three months. The boats are intended to help the Coast Guard develop and validate performance requirements, assess industry capabilities, and gather information about the current marketplace, the agency said, noting data collected from operating the boats will be used to guide future acquisition decisions.
The Coast Guard's RB-S boats support a wide range of missions, including drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, search and rescue, law enforcement, living marine resources protection, defense readiness, aids to navigation, and ports, waterways, and coastal security operations.
The new demonstrator boats will range in length from approximately 29' to 37' and will be powered by twin outboard engines producing up to 600 hp.
"SAFE Boats is grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting the United States Coast Guard through this RB-S demonstrator program,” Rob Goley, chief revenue and customer officer at SAFE Boats, told WorkBoat. “Our team brings decades of experience delivering proven small-boat platforms to the Coast Guard, including earlier generations of this vessel. That experience is rooted in close collaboration with operators — listening to crews, understanding mission demands, and translating real-world feedback into practical design decisions. We approach this effort with respect for the mission, appreciation for the partnership, and confidence in our ability to deliver a capable, operator-focused solution that supports the Coast Guard’s evaluation process and future operational needs."
"This award reflects Birdon’s dedication to supporting the U.S. Coast Guard with cutting-edge solutions that enhance mission performance and crew safety," Tony Ardito, president at Birdon, said in a statement. "We are proud to contribute to the Coast Guard’s vital role in safeguarding our nation’s waterways."
Birdon said it will deliver its demonstrator vessel to Coast Guard facilities in Norfolk, Va., or Charleston, S.C., for a three-month operational evaluation period.
WorkBoat also reached out to the other builders for comment.
