Snow Boat Building constructing new Work Boat Large for US Navy

Seattle-based company Snow Boat Building has won a contract with the US Navy to construct a 12- by 5.2-metre Work Boat Large.

The small, heavily built steel vessel with aluminium superstructure will be operated by a crew of two and will hold up to five passengers. It will have a capacity for a 1,400kg total payload.

Propulsion power will be a pair of Cummins QSM11 mains each developing 340kW at 2,100rpm. This power will give the vessel a bollard push of 10 tonnes or a speed of nine knots.

As a naval shore installation support vessel, the workboat will be capable of assisting barges, submarines and other naval vessels. It will also be employed in opening and closing security barriers or to tow/push other floating port support equipment.