What Silver Ships does

Silver Ships is a privately held custom aluminum workboat manufacturer founded in 1985 and headquartered in Theodore, Alabama. The company designs, engineers, and constructs mission-specific vessels across six product series (Ambar RHIBs, Endeavor, Explorer landing craft, Freedom, Catamaran survey, and the newer Coastal Fast Response Boat/CFRB), serving U.S. federal and military customers (Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA), state and municipal fire and law enforcement agencies, hydrographic survey organizations, marine towing operators, and international allied navies procured through the U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales program. All vessels are built with 5086 H32 grade aluminum using minimum 1/4-inch bottom plates continuously welded inside and out at underwater seams, available in deep-V, catamaran, and RHIB hull configurations. Customization is the central operating principle: each vessel is purpose-engineered for the operator's mission, from a 27-foot patrol boat for sheriff departments to a 52-foot CFRB fireboat pushing 3,000 GPM.

The business model is build-to-order manufacturing with three monetization streams: (1) custom vessel sales to government and commercial buyers, (2) federal procurement facilitated through a GSA Schedule contract (47QSWA18D009G), competitive Naval Sea Systems Command bidding, and FMS vehicles, and (3) aftermarket parts, repair, and refurbishment services. Revenue is concentrated in one-off custom orders rather than recurring contracts, and pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Backlog visibility is anchored by multi-year IDIQ contracts such as the Naval Special Warfare Surface Support Craft program (up to 110 craft, up to $51.6M total potential) and a $48.25M cumulative Navy contract for High-Speed Maneuvering Surface Target vessels. Production runs at 30+ vessels per year across a 25-acre primary facility plus a second production site opened in September 2024. GTM is enterprise field sales direct to government buyers and select commercial accounts, supplemented by the GSA Advantage marketplace and exhibiting at major industry conferences (MACC, SOFIC, FDIC, WorkBoat Show). The leadership team is 100% veteran-staffed in Project Management & Sales and over 30% veteran-staffed in Marine Assembly, with a retired U.S. Navy captain serving as Director of Federal Programs.

Ownership and control remain with the original founders: Mike McCarty founded the business in 1985 and transitioned from CEO to Chairman in November 2022 after 37 years, passing CEO duties to co-owner Steven Clarke (previously CFO for seven years). The company is founder-owned with no institutional investors, no parent entity, and a wholly-owned subsidiary (Gulf Coast Suzuki, launched May 2020 as an authorized Suzuki Marine dealer). Headcount is in the 11-50 range, making Silver Ships a small business by SBA standards, though contract values place it as a Tier II Gulf Coast shipyard. The firm carries no external funding rounds or M&A activity in the source data, and its trajectory has been self-funded growth via U.S. government contracting.

Name

Silver Ships

Legal name

Silver Ships, Inc.

Website

https://silverships.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Silver Ships is a custom aluminum workboat manufacturer founded in 1985 in Theodore, Alabama, serving U.S. military, federal agencies, fire rescue, law enforcement, surveying, and allied navies via the Navy's Foreign Military Sales program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aluminum Workboat Manufacturing

NAICS

Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Landing Craft & Amphibious Workboats (LCM/LCT-style, Beaching Craft) (IMAJADAK), Fireboats & Emergency Response Craft (IMAJADAH), Search & Rescue (SAR) & Lifeboats (IMAJADAI)

Keywords

• Aluminum workboat manufacturing
• Military patrol vessels
• Fire rescue boats
• Hydrographic survey vessels
• Law enforcement marine craft

Headquarters

HQ city

Theodore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Aluminum Workboat Manufacturing and Sales: Silver Ships generates revenue primarily through the design, engineering, construction, and sale of custom aluminum workboats. Boats are built to order based on customer mission requirements. The company also offers parts, repair, and refurbishment services. Government contracts (federal, state, municipal) and commercial sales represent the primary revenue streams.
2. Aftermarket Parts, Repair, and Refurbishment Services: Silver Ships offers parts sales, repair services, and vessel refurbishment as post-sale revenue streams, supporting the after-delivery lifecycle of their vessels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Silver Ships designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells custom aluminum workboats across six in-house boat series (Ambar RHIBs, Endeavor multi-mission workboats, Explorer landing craft, Freedom center consoles, Catamaran survey vessels, and CFRB fast cabin vessels) ranging from 20 to 52 feet. Vessels are built to order using 5086 H32 grade aluminum with continuously welded underwater seams and outfitted for fire rescue, law enforcement, military, hydrographic surveying, and marine towing missions. The company also provides aftermarket parts, repair, and refurbishment services, and participates in U.S. Navy Foreign Military Sales and GSA Schedule procurement channels.

Product overview

Silver Ships is a custom aluminum workboat manufacturer offering multiple boat series including Ambar (RHIB), Endeavor, Explorer (landing craft), Freedom, Catamaran, and Coastal Fast Response Boats (CFRB). The product portfolio ranges from 20-foot to 52-foot vessels serving five marine sectors: Fire/Rescue, Law Enforcement, Military, Hydrographic Surveying, and Marine Towing. Core products are the Ambar series (military RHIBs), CFRB series (multi-purpose fast cabin vessels), and various survey/fire/patrol boats. The company also provides parts, repair, and refurbishment services. Production facilities span a 25-acre site in Theodore, Alabama, with recent expansion to a second location increasing production capacity. Notable government contracts include Naval Special Warfare Surface Support Craft (up to 110 vessels) and Assault Amphibian Safety Boats for the U.S. Marine Corps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ambar Series: Riverine patrol boats and rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) used for military and law enforcement applications.
• Endeavor Series
• Explorer Series
• Freedom Series
• CFRB (Coastal Fast Response Boat)
• Catamaran Series

Products and services

• Ambar Series (RHIB) Aluminum Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) series for military, law enforcement, fire rescue, towing, and multi-mission use, featuring deep-vee hulls with inflatable collar systems. Models range from AM 600 through AM 1200.
• Endeavor Series Multi-purpose aluminum workboat series with deep-vee hull forms for rough-water patrol, rescue, firefighting, and survey operations, available in sizes from Endeavor 28 to Endeavor 48+.
• Explorer Series Landing craft aluminum workboat series with bow ramp configurations for fire/rescue, law enforcement, and military missions, offered in Explorer 20 through Explorer 48+ variants.
• Freedom Series Center console aluminum workboat series for patrol, fire rescue, and general purpose maritime operations, ranging from Freedom 21 to Freedom 30.
• Catamaran Series Twin-hull aluminum survey vessels (Catamaran 28 and Catamaran 35) designed for hydrographic surveying with enhanced stability for sonar equipment deployment.
• Coastal Fast Response Boat (CFRB) Large, fast cabin aluminum vessels (42–52 feet) configurable for firefighting, patrol, law enforcement, search and rescue, and military applications.
• Parts, Repair, and Refurbishment Services Aftermarket parts supply, repair, and refurbishment services for Silver Ships vessels and other aluminum workboats, extending operational life of delivered vessels.
• Special Purpose Craft — Law Enforcement II (SPC-LE2) 11-meter (36-foot) aluminum response boat for U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement, search and rescue, coastal security, and environmental protection missions.
• Assault Amphibian Safety Boat (AASB) Custom 39-foot Ambar-variant vessel with 2-foot shallow draft and 25-degree deadrise for U.S. Marine Corps amphibious training support with AAV/ACV vehicles, featuring twin 250 HP Mercury SeaPro outboards.
• Hydrographic Survey Vessels Custom aluminum survey boats equipped with single-beam and multi-beam sonar systems, dedicated survey stations for data processing, and climate-controlled cabins for crew comfort during extended operations.
• Fire Rescue Boats Specialized aluminum firefighting vessels in 20- to 52-foot configurations equipped with fire pumps, thermal cameras, emergency lighting, shock mitigating decking/seating, and patient care facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered 32 Assault Amphibian Safety Boats on time or early since late 2022 for U.S. Marine Corps.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Anchor InnovationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 September 2025Anchor Innovation, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, provides highly experienced mariners to spearhead crew familiarization and reactivation training on Silver Ships' behalf for international customers. U.S. Coast Guard veteran Captain Royce Potter and U.S. Navy veteran Michael Hoar conducted two-week training programs for the Guatemalan Navy CFRB crews.
• Thompson MarinecoreTechnology or Integration · 20 August 2024Thompson Marine, based in Spanish Fort, Alabama, serves as Silver Ships' key propulsion systems partner, providing the critical power train including Caterpillar C7.1 500hp marine diesel engines and transmissions for CFRB vessels. Their implementation engineering team provides responsive support throughout the project lifecycle, making them a highly reliable partner for Silver Ships' high-visibility military vessel projects.
• Gulf Coast SuzukicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGulf Coast Suzuki, launched as a branch of Silver Ships, Inc., is an authorized Suzuki Marine dealer. Silver Ships references Gulf Coast Suzuki as a key partner/vendor on its website, providing marine engine distribution as part of the vessel supply chain.
• DarleymajorTechnology or IntegrationDarley is a key partner providing fire pumps and firefighting equipment for Silver Ships' fire rescue vessels. The Destin Fire Control District vessel M-19 features two 1,500-gallon Darley fire pumps as a standout feature.
• Caterpillar MarinemajorTechnology or IntegrationCaterpillar Marine is a key propulsion partner providing C7.1 500hp marine diesel engines for Silver Ships' CFRB vessels. The C7.1 diesels provide efficient fuel combustion, quieter operation, and no visible smoke when running.
• Suzuki MarinemajorTechnology or IntegrationSuzuki Marine provides outboard motors for Silver Ships workboats. The company also launched Gulf Coast Suzuki as an authorized dealer, expanding the partnership within Silver Ships' ecosystem.
• Mercury Marine (Verado)majorTechnology or IntegrationMercury Marine provides Verado outboard motors (e.g., twin 250HP for Catamaran 28) and joystick piloting with Skyhook GPS technology for position and heading control on Silver Ships' survey vessels.
• Yamaha OutboardsmajorTechnology or IntegrationYamaha provides outboard motors for Silver Ships vessels, including 425 HP Yamaha outboards for the Destin Fire Control District fire boat and 200HP outboards for USACE survey vessels.
• Auburn UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Ships partnered with Auburn University's Industrial Design program and the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory (AUSL) to develop oyster harvesting boat design concepts, demonstrating collaborative product development with academic institutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MetalCraft Marine: Canadian aluminum patrol, fire/rescue and military workboat builder with U.S. subsidiary, similarly competing in law enforcement, fire rescue and federal aluminum patrol craft — a direct like-for-like competitor.
• SAFE Boats International: Bremerton, WA-based aluminum patrol and workboat builder serving U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, federal, state and local law enforcement — the closest direct competitor to Silver Ships in aluminum military and LE craft.
• SeaArk Marine: Arkansas-based aluminum boat manufacturer with a government/military product line (SeaArk Commander, Patrol) that competes with Silver Ships for municipal, state and federal LE and patrol orders.
• Willard Marine: California-based aluminum workboat manufacturer with deep U.S. Navy and military customer base, building patrol, training, and mission boats that overlap directly with Silver Ships' Ambar, Endeavor and CFRB lines.
• Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding: Massachusetts-based builder of aluminum commercial and government workboats (including pilot, patrol, and research vessels) — operating in the same federal aluminum-vessel segment as Silver Ships.
• Swiftships: Louisiana-based builder of aluminum patrol boats and military craft for U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and allied navies — a long-standing competitor in the same mission-boat segment and Gulf Coast geography.
• North River Boats: Oregon-built heavy-duty aluminum workboats used by military, federal agencies and law enforcement — a direct competitor in custom aluminum hulls for government mission applications.
• Armstrong Marine: Washington State aluminum workboat builder serving commercial, research and government customers — directly comparable as a small-series custom aluminum workboat yard.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Whaler Commercial / Brunswick Commercial: Large recreational and commercial boat brand (owned by Brunswick) with a government/defense sub-line — a broader incumbent offering aluminum patrol/utility boats that overlap with Silver Ships at the smaller end of the market.

Others

• Sea Machines Robotics: Boston-based autonomous marine control software provider that is already an existing Silver Ships technology partner — relevant as an adjacent/ecosystem player enabling autonomous upgrades across the workboat category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/silvershipsinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SilverShipsInc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Silver Ships