Metal Shark

Metal Shark
Name	Metal Shark
Industry	Shipbuilding
Founded	1986
Headquarters	Jeanerette, Louisiana
Key people	Christopher J. Allard
Products	Patrol boats, workboats, aluminum vessels

Metal Shark is an American shipbuilding company specializing in aluminum-hulled patrol boats, workboats, and custom vessels for government, commercial, and recreational clients. The company has produced a range of small to medium-sized craft used by law enforcement, naval forces, and maritime agencies, achieving recognition for rapid production and modular designs. It operates facilities in Louisiana and provides export-ready vessels for international customers.

History

The company was founded in 1986 in Jeanerette, Louisiana during a period of expansion in Gulf Coast maritime industries linked to the Offshore oil industry and regional shipbuilding demand. In the 1990s and 2000s the firm expanded capabilities amid procurement programs from agencies such as the United States Coast Guard, various state police forces, and foreign navies. Following increased demand after incidents like the September 11 attacks, the company scaled production to fulfill coastal security and port protection requirements, participating in competitive bidding alongside established shipbuilders such as Halter Marine and Bath Iron Works. In the 2010s the shipyard modernized facilities and pursued export contracts with partners in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, interacting with procurement offices of countries including Honduras, Gabon, and Uzbekistan.

Products and Models

The product line covers a spectrum from small rigid-hulled boats to larger offshore patrol vessels, producing models tailored to law enforcement, military, and commercial missions. Notable families include center-console patrol boats used by municipal agencies, offshore response craft comparable to designs by Hatteras Yachts in size class, and larger 40–85 foot patrol craft employed by coast guards and navies. Many hulls feature options for weapon mounts, communication suites compatible with systems from Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and propulsion arrangements from manufacturers such as Cummins and MTU. The company supplies boats for operators like the United States Navy auxiliary units, municipal harbor patrols, and foreign naval services, and has produced special mission platforms for disaster response modeled on standards set by organizations including Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Design and Construction

Vessels are primarily aluminum-hulled, using multi-chine and deep-V hullforms to balance seakeeping, speed, and payload—concepts also employed by yards such as Silver Ships and Gladding-Hearn. Construction employs modular prefabrication with welded aluminum superstructures and integrated stringer systems; structural welding practices align with standards promulgated by classification societies like American Bureau of Shipping and Lloyd's Register. Designs often integrate shock-mitigating seating, collision bulkheads, and aft ramps where required by naval acquisition offices. Systems integration frequently includes navigation and sensor suites interoperable with products from Garmin Limited, FLIR Systems, and Kongsberg; communication suites are configured for encrypted channels compatible with radios from Harris Corporation. Propulsion options include waterjets and conventional shafts paired with engines from established suppliers, and fuel and weight distribution are optimized using standards from National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Operational Use and Deployments

Ships built by the yard serve in coastal patrol, interdiction, search and rescue, and customs enforcement roles for municipal police departments, port authorities, and naval forces. Domestic operators include state-level maritime units and municipal harbor patrols; internationally, craft have been commissioned by navies and coast guards in regions like Central America and West Africa. Deployments have supported counter-narcotics operations in coordination with agencies such as United States Customs and Border Protection and multinational task groups operating under frameworks like Operation Martillo. Vessels have also been used in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions alongside organizations such as United States Agency for International Development and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners.

Corporate Structure and Ownership

The company operates as a privately held firm headquartered in Jeanerette, Louisiana with additional production facilities in shipbuilding hubs along the Gulf Coast. Executive leadership has included individuals with prior experience in regional maritime management and defense contracting; the firm engages with prime contractors and subcontractors in defense procurements, interfacing with procurement offices at the Department of Defense and regional procurement agencies. Business development efforts target municipal, state, federal, and international customers, and the company participates in trade events hosted by organizations such as the National Defense Industrial Association and the International Maritime Organization-related exhibitions.

Safety, Certifications, and Compliance

Manufacturing and vessels comply with classification and safety standards from bodies like the American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd's Register, and U.S. regulatory frameworks enforced by the United States Coast Guard. Quality management adheres to industry best practices and certification schemes prevalent in naval procurement, and boats intended for export are outfitted to meet recipient-country standards and export-control requirements administered by agencies including the Bureau of Industry and Security. Safety features across models include firefighting systems, lifesaving appliances aligned with International Maritime Organization conventions where applicable, and crew protection measures compatible with mission profiles defined by client agencies.

Category:Shipbuilding companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Louisiana