Metal Shark, a Louisiana-based shipbuilder, has been awarded a contract potentially worth more than $90 million to produce the U.S. Navy’s next-generation patrol boat, the PB(X).

This award is the culmination of a multiyear process by the Navy to select the replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use with Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). Subject to annual appropriations, the Navy intends to replace approximately 100 to 160 of its existing 25-foot and 34-foot CRF patrol boats with the larger and more modern PB(X) platform over the next 15 years.

Metal Shark says the Navy has placed an initial, immediate order for 11 of the new vessels. Under the terms of the award, Metal Shark will build up to 50 PB(X) vessels for the Navy, along with trailers, spares and training packages, and technical support.

The PB(X) design is a 40-foot, welded-aluminum pilothouse patrol boat with a 43-foot 11-inches overall length and overall beam of 11 feet 10 inches.

“PB(X) was one of the most challenging and most sought-after U.S. military boat procurement opportunities in recent history," says Chris Allard, CEO of Metal Shark, "the result of a years-long process pitting Metal Shark’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities against multiple leading U.S. naval architect firms and nearly all of our competitors. The award of PB(X) to Metal Shark is the result of a tremendous team effort, and I couldn’t be more proud of our people.”

Metal Shark specifications note the PB(X), powered by twin diesel inboards and water jets, has a moderate aft deadrise, wide-waterplane, sharp-entry hull form that can achieve 35-plus knot sprint speeds while displaying superb dynamic stability in a range of conditions. The PB(X) also offers enhanced handling and a greatly reduced operating cost at the 10- to 15-knot escort and cruise speeds where the vessel will spend the bulk of its operational life.

The PB(X) features ballistic protection and can be armed with a range of crew-served and remotely operated weapons systems.

The PB(X) will be built at Metal Shark’s Jeanerette, La., production facility, which specializes in the rapid, serialized assembly of military patrol boats. Other significant military fleet builds currently under way at the facility include ongoing production of the Navy’s 32-foot Force Protection Boat-Medium, the 26-foot High Speed Maneuverable Surface Target, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s 29-foot Response Boat-Small.

Metal Shark previously was awarded a contract to build up to 13 Near Coastal Patrol Vessels for the Navy. Those 85-foot patrol boats are being produced at Metal Shark’s Franklin, La., waterfront shipyard.