Metal Shark Boats

Name

Metal Shark Boats

Legal name

Metal Shark Boats

Website

https://metalsharkboats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shipbuilding and Marine Vessel Manufacturing

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship and Boat Building (33661)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Patrol, Interceptor & Law-Enforcement Craft (Coast Guard, Customs) (IMAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fireboats & Emergency Response Craft (IMAJADAH), Search & Rescue (SAR) & Lifeboats (IMAJADAI)

Keywords

• Aluminum patrol vessels
• Military patrol boats
• Unmanned surface vessels
• Shipbuilding services
• Custom boat manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Jeanerette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Vessel Sales: Metal Shark generates revenue through the design and construction of custom welded aluminum vessels for defense, law enforcement, and commercial operators. Revenue is earned on a project-by-project basis through defense contracts, government procurement (including Foreign Military Sales), and direct commercial sales. Vessels range from 16' skiffs to 300'+ vessels.
2. Autonomous Vessel Systems Integration: Revenue from integrating autonomous technology (SharkTech and partner technologies like HavocAI, Tocaro Blue, Sea Machines) into vessel platforms, adding value through technology integration services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Metal Shark Boats designs, engineers, and builds custom welded aluminum vessels ranging from 16-foot skiffs to over 300-foot ships for military, law enforcement, fire rescue, and commercial operators. Core product lines include Defiant monohull pilothouse patrol vessels, Fearless high-speed center consoles, Endurance catamaran ferries, Relentless surface target boats, Courageous fire rescue vessels, and Resolute utility skiffs, complemented by a growing portfolio of autonomous unmanned surface vessels (HSMUSV, LRUSV, Prowler, Frenzy) and the proprietary Swamp Shark shallow-water propulsion system.

Product overview

Metal Shark Boats is a designer and builder of custom welded aluminum vessels from 16' to over 300' for military, law enforcement, fire rescue, and commercial operators. The product portfolio centers on six core model series: Defiant (monohull pilothouse patrol vessels from 16-165'), Fearless (high-speed center console patrol boats including 52' military super interceptor), Endurance (catamaran pilothouse vessels from 45-100'+ including passenger ferries and dive support), Relentless (high-speed maneuvering surface target boats), Courageous (fire rescue vessels), and Resolute (workhorse skiffs from 16-30'). The autonomous vessels portfolio includes HSMUSV (High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessel) with SharkTech autonomous systems, LRUSV for Marine Corps, Prowler semi-submersible USV, and Frenzy micro-USV. Supporting products include the Swamp Shark Drive shallow-water propulsion system. Metal Shark operates two Louisiana manufacturing facilities (Jeanerette and Franklin) and produces over 200 vessels per year, with over 2,000 vessels delivered worldwide including major contracts with U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and allied militaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SharkTech: In-house autonomous systems developed for unmanned surface vessels
• Swamp Shark
• Defiant Series
• Fearless Series
• Relentless Series
• Endurance Series
• Courageous Series
• Resolute Series

Products and services

• Defiant Series Family of welded aluminum monohull pilothouse patrol vessels ranging from 16 to 165 feet, featuring pillarless glass pilothouse design for enhanced visibility. Includes Near Coastal Patrol Vessel (NCPV) configuration and military patrol boats for U.S. and allied forces.
• Fearless Series High-speed center console patrol boats known for military super interceptor capabilities including the 52-foot, 80 MPH Fearless Super Interceptor with full-rate production underway.
• Endurance Series Catamaran pilothouse vessels available in 45' to 100'+ sizes with propulsion options including conventional straight-shaft inboards, water jets, and pods. Includes passenger ferry (PV-X), dive support vessel (DSV), and offshore configurations.
• Relentless Series High-speed maneuvering surface target boats and patrol vessels for military training and operational use. Includes 26-foot HSMST (High Speed Maneuverable Surface Target).
• Courageous Series Fire rescue and patrol vessels designed for first responder operations with rugged construction and mission-specific configurations.
• Resolute Series Dependable workhorse skiffs ranging from 16 to 30 feet, built for extreme commercial use with corrosion-resistant 5086 aluminum alloy construction. Configurable for center consoles, side consoles, dual consoles, or tiller steering.
• HSMUSV (High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessel) 21-foot autonomous surface vessel with factory-equipped SharkTech autonomous systems, producible at up to one unit per day at cost below $500,000. Features over 500 nautical miles range and approximately 10 days loitering capability at lower speeds.
• LRUSV (Long Range Unmanned Surface Vessel) Autonomous surface vessel developed for the U.S. Marine Corps under the Organic Precision Fires program, part of Metal Shark's expanding unmanned systems portfolio.
• Prowler Semi-Submersible USV Innovative semi-submersible unmanned surface vessel featuring low observability design for extended maritime operations.
• Frenzy Micro-USV Micro unmanned surface vessel designed for specialized maritime autonomous operations.
• 85 Defiant (Near Coastal Patrol Vessel) 87' x 19.5' welded aluminum monohull patrol vessel based on Damen Shipyards' 2606 Standardized Patrol platform. Built for U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales to partner nations. Features twin 1,600-horsepower Caterpillar C-32 engines, speeds exceeding 25 knots, 10-person crew capacity, and integrated 5.6-meter RIB deployment system.
• 27 Defiant (Force Protection Boat - Small) 27' welded aluminum patrol vessel serving as U.S. Navy Force Protection Boat - Small. Features deep vee hull, 8'6" beam for trailerability, power options up to 500 HP, and convertible pilothouse that folds down for transport.
• Passenger Ferries & Excursion Vessels High-speed aluminum catamaran passenger vessels including NYC Ferry fleet deliveries, New Orleans ferries, and Potomac Riverboat Company vessels. Ranging from 85' to 97' with capacities from 150 to 350 passengers.
• Pilot Boats Custom-configurable pilot boats in 45', 55', and 64' configurations featuring pillarless glass pilothouses for enhanced visibility, flush decks, pilot boarding platforms, and multiple fendering options.
• RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) 7-meter rigid inflatable boats available with diesel stern drives, waterjets, or twin outboard engines, suitable for military and commercial applications.
• Damen Fast Crew Supplier Fast crew supply vessels including FCS 7011 (70-meter, 40-knot speed, 150-passenger capacity), FCS 2610, and FCS 2008 models. Produced at Metal Shark's Franklin, Louisiana shipyard under partnership with Damen Shipyards.
• 16 Resolute Skiff 16' durable utility skiff with 6'10" beam and 6" draft for shallow water operation. Features welded rivet-free 5086 aluminum alloy construction, configurable for center console, side console, dual console, or tiller steering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 vessels delivered worldwide including 500+ to US Navy and 600+ to US Coast Guard
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.

• Pacific ManufacturingregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 May 2026Australian manufacturing partner appointed to expand Metal Shark's global reach into the Australian market. Enables localized production and distribution of Metal Shark vessels in Australia.
• Tocaro BluecoreTechnology or Integration · 16 December 2025Strategic collaboration to embed Tocaro Blue's ProteusCore radar processing software into Metal Shark's fleet of High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessels (HSMUSVs). Partnership aims to advance maritime autonomy capabilities. Metal Shark demonstrated vessels during NATO's BALTOPS 25 Baltic Sea exercise in Finland in June 2025.
• HavocAIcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 October 2025Strategic partnership to integrate Havoc's collaborative autonomy platform across Metal Shark's fleet of High Speed Maneuverable Unmanned Surface Vessels (HSMUSVs). The technology enables a single operator to control multiple autonomous vessels simultaneously for swarm operations. Already deployed with U.S. Navy and Army, and used in live operational settings by international allies.
• Damen ShipyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration providing proven patrol vessel designs including the Stan Patrol 2606 for Near Coastal Patrol Vessel (NCPV) program. Damen's global service network and technical support complement Metal Shark's manufacturing capabilities. Metal Shark has significantly optimized Damen's standardized patrol platform for military requirements.
• ASV GlobalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to introduce SHARKTECH autonomous vessels, combining Metal Shark's vessel design and manufacturing with ASV Global's autonomous vessel technology. Launched in July 2018 to develop autonomous maritime platforms.
• Sea MachinescoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to launch Sharktech autonomous vessels combining Metal Shark's boat building with Sea Machines' autonomous marine technology. U.S. Coast Guard selected Metal Shark and Sea Machines to supply new autonomous vessels in 2020.
• Angelle Development LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to develop and manufacture the Swamp Shark all-terrain propulsion system. Metal Shark is exclusive OEM installer of Swamp Shark Drives for military and government agencies. The system is engineered for extreme shallow water, riverine, and mud flat environments.
• Incat CrowtherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with design firm Incat Crowther to develop new lines of passenger vessels including Endurance PV-X models (150-passenger and 350-passenger catamarans) and NYC Ferry vessels.
• BMT Designers and Planners / BMT Nigel GeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partnership for passenger vessels including Potomac Riverboat Company vessels featuring environmentally friendly low wake/low wash hull design.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brunswick Corporation: Brunswick is a large marine conglomerate (parent of Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Mercury Marine) with adjacent aluminum boat capabilities, including Boston Whaler which supplies USCG and law enforcement vessels in segments adjacent to Metal Shark.
• Damen Shipyards: Damen is a large, established global shipbuilder that licenses its Stan Patrol 2606 design to Metal Shark for U.S. Navy NCPV production and also directly competes for international patrol vessel FMS contracts.

Direct peers

• SAFE Boats International: SAFE Boats is one of Metal Shark's closest direct competitors, building welded aluminum patrol and response boats for U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, law enforcement, and fire rescue markets with comparable size and government procurement focus.
• Silver Ships: Silver Ships designs and manufactures aluminum vessels for military, first responder, and law enforcement markets, including fireboats and patrol boats - a near-direct competitor in Metal Shark's Courageous and Defiant lines.
• Willard Marine: Willard Marine is a longstanding builder of aluminum military boats including Sea Ark and Force-class vessels for the U.S. Navy and allied navies, competing for small craft defense and federal agency contracts.
• Hike Metal Products: Hike Metal Products is a Canadian builder of welded aluminum patrol vessels and workboats serving navies and coast guards, including Royal Canadian Navy and allied customers overlapping with Metal Shark's defense client base.
• North River Boats: North River Boats manufactures custom welded aluminum vessels for military, government, law enforcement, and commercial operators, overlapping with Metal Shark's Defiant and Resolute product lines.
• Swiftships: Swiftships builds welded aluminum patrol boats, riverine craft, and crew vessels for U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and allied militaries, directly competing for the same Defense and FMS programs as Metal Shark.
• Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding: Gladding-Hearn builds commercial and government aluminum vessels including pilot boats, passenger ferries, and patrol boats for U.S. and international operators, sharing Metal Shark's commercial vessel focus.
• Birdon America: Birdon builds military and commercial vessels (including Riverine Command Boats) for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, participating in many of the same contract competitions as Metal Shark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/metalsharkboats
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metal-shark-aluminum-boats

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metal Shark Boats