Navy licenses Willard Marine 11 m RIB design

AUGUST 5, 2016  — Willard Marine says it has executed a licensing agreement with the U.S. Navy that will see a Willard Marine boat design serve as the guideline for the Navy’s new 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat (RIB) government design.

For 27 years, Willard Marine has designed and built U.S. Navy ship-board RIBs that are 7 m and 11 m in length featuring a variety of propulsion, deck and outfitting arrangements. The licensing agreement allows the U.S. Navy to utilize Willard’s Sea Force 1100, U.S. Navy model RIB design to create an all new Navy 11-meter RIB.  

The new RIBs will be used in U.S. fleets around the world, and it enables select international militaries to purchase the vessels through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.  

The Navy pursued the licensing agreement with Willard Marine in an effort to maximize commonality between the old and new 11 m RIB platforms, minimize time and money spent on boat operations training, maintenance, repair and service.

Through the U.S. Navy FMS program, Willard Marine has also provided Sea Force 1100 RIBs 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 U.S. manufacturer of SOLAS rescue boats.