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tions that had been available only on our larger M1 44 and 46 foot catamarans,” Stott said. “The new wide-cabin M2- 38 catamarans have a center helm seat, forward companion seats--port and starboard, a full galley, a four-person table, a command desk-workstation, and access to a cuddy cabin via a door to the forward hull area.” Wide-cabin catama- rans have been well received, says Stott, with three vessels currently in service and a fourth under construction, he said. Regarding backlogs, “we have four vessels under con- struction, pending contracts in process and several pros- pects awaiting approval of federal FY 2014 Port Security Grant Program funding,” Stott said. Replacement Hulls, the Environment, Fleet Upgrades & Mideast Tensions Drive Sales Although belt tightening at federal, state and municipal levels continues in North America, aging patrol and police vessels are being replaced with more energy effi cient and en- vironmentally benign craft, vessel builders said. Overseas, the Middle East region, which had been relatively quiet, has reig- nited as a military hot spot, with coastlines that need constant surveillance and protection. All of that adds up to a red hot market for U.S. builders who have shown that they can deliv- er both quality and low prices, in a timely fashion, to custom- ers anywhere on the planet. That’s a winning combination in any discipline and a welcome sea change that domestic ship- builders – in any class or size of vessels – can try to emulate. Susan Buchanan is a New Orleans-based business writer, specializing in energy, maritime matters, agriculture, the environment and construction. She holds a master’s degree from Cornell University in agricultural economics and an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. www.marinelink.com MN Oct14 Layout 32-49.indd 33 9/18/2014 3:33:18 PM
