Front Street Shipyard starts patrol craft series

JANUARY 8, 2014 — Front Street Shipyard, Belfast, ME is beginning construction of a series of catamaran patrol craft for Trefoil Marine, Newport, RI. The first of the boats will launch in early summer 2014.

Designed by Donald L. Blount and Associates (DLBA) of Chesapeake, VA, the T30 catamaran will be used primarily for military and police patrol, fire and rescue, though its capabilities are applicable to the commercial and recreational markets as well.

Designed to provide superior stability, predictable handling and a smooth ride, the corrosion-free, infused composite construction vessels combine shallow draft with minimal wake.

The hull and deck will be built of fiberglass with a foam collar around the sides and bow.

The vessel can be beached or stored without the need for a cradle. Power options include outboard, inboard diesel with drives, or jet. The T30 is designed for river and shallow water operations as much as heavy sea states.

“We’ve been working closely with Trefoil Marine as they’ve honed the design with DLBA and introduced it to prospective clients,” said J.B. Turner, president of Front Street Shipyard. “That relationship has allowed us to carefully plan an efficient building process for this series of Patrol Cats now that there are contracts in place.”
 
“Trefoil Marine is pleased to be working in collaboration with the team at Front Street Shipyard,” said Trefoil Marine President Jim Mattingly. “Utilizing their new state-of-the-art facility, we can draw upon their leading technical talent, experience and knowledge of modern composite construction. Their willingness to work with Trefoil Marine and our designers, DLBA, over the past two years assures us that the boats will be manufactured to the highest standard.”

The T30 will be joining the Trefoil line that includes the T28 and T29. The T28 is a trailerable high-speed intercept vessel, and the T29 is a wide-body configuration that provides a substantially large work platform. Trefoil Marine is developing a complete line of commercial vessels that includes military patrol and commercial passenger service vessels to 80 ft.