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Stevens, CEO of Tampa Yacht Manu- facturing in Florida, said last month. Coastal and littoral protection has been stepped up in response. ?Na- tions are particularly concerned about the possibility of asymmetric threats, presented by countries equipped with a number of small craft, such as Iran,? he said. ?To combat these threats, sim- ilar, small-craft defense is required.? Piracy is also on the rise, contributing to the need for patrol boats. Last year, a record number of boardings by pirates occurred in the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen, Stevens said. And because today?s maritime security mis- sions cannot, by themselves, be per- formed by traditional bluewater hulls, the smaller workboat model comes increasingly into play. But the cumu- lative needs of the maritime security workboat sector demand much more than just more hulls. Innovation and cutting edge features therefore trump sheer work volume. Fortunately, there is plenty of the former to go around. INNOVATION OF A DIFFERENT KIND: CO-BUILDING STRATEGIES A 28-meter patrol craft, made of steel with an aluminum superstruc- ture, is Swiftships? best known and most stable Egyptian navy platform, Shehraze Shaw, CEO of Swiftships Shipbuilders, said last month. The Morgan City, La.-based company introduced its parent craft to Egypt in1983 through U.S. Foreign Mili- tary Financing, a program providing security to friendly governments--in- cluding border and coast guard duties performed by the Egyptian navy. ?Thirty years later, this relationship has grown into co-production to facil- itate economic development in Egypt via joint funding,? Shaw said. Vessels produced through the liaison are the basis of the company?s coastal brigade, 28-meter patrol boat. www.marinelink.com MN 31MN Dec2013 Layout 18-31.indd 31MN Dec2013 Layout 18-31.indd 3111/26/2013 10:40:16 AM11/26/2013 10:40:16 AM
