The 47 foot Aluminum Motor Life Boat Project

In 1997 MetalCraft Marine and Joint Venture Partner MIL Systems of Ottawa entered into a contract with the Canadian Coast Guard to build the most complex and technically difficult small boats in the world, the USCG 47’ MLB. The US builder was Textron Marine and Land Systems, a Hover Craft and armed car builder.

The aluminum MLB was a 26 knot self-righting SAR craft designed to withstand Sea State 8. The 47’ Motor Life Boat Project built under a licensing agreement from the United States Coast Guard was also the most arduous contract in MetalCraft Marine's history.

Our Joint Venture partner went into bankruptcy protection in the first year of the contract and finally collapsed in 2001, after being supported by the Canadian Government through most of the contract. The 3 year contract was stretched into 5 years as a result.

Through all of this MetalCraft Marine showed its strength and resiliency delivering 7 Motor Lifeboats at a cost of $13 million, which included the re-engineering of the boats to Canadian CSI standards and converting the propulsion systems from Detroit to Caterpillar.

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