Yamba Welding & Engineering

Name

Yamba Welding & Engineering

Legal name

The Whiskey Project Group USA, LLC

Website

https://yambawelding.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence and Commercial Watercraft Manufacturing

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

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)

Keywords

• Tactical watercraft manufacturing
• Military patrol boats
• Search and rescue vessels
• Aluminium landing craft
• Maritime defense engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Yamba

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 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. Defense Watercraft Sales: Direct sale of tactical and reconnaissance watercraft to military and government defense customers, including US Marine Corps contract valued at approximately US$36 million for Whiskey Bravo platforms
2. Commercial Maritime Watercraft Sales: Sale of NAiAD and VYCOR commercial vessels to emergency services, law enforcement, and search and rescue organizations
3. Custom Design & Engineering Services: Bespoke design and engineering solutions for unique maritime challenges requiring discreet on-water solutions through design innovation and project management

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Yamba Welding & Engineering, operating as The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG), designs and manufactures operator-focused tactical and commercial aluminium watercraft across three brands — WHISKEY (tactical military platforms), VYCOR (landing craft and work boats), and NAiAD (search & rescue and patrol vessels). The company produces vessels for defense forces, law enforcement, and emergency services, with custom design and engineering services for unique maritime requirements.

Product overview

The company operates as a tactical watercraft manufacturer with three distinct brand portfolios: WHISKEY (tactical/military boats including Whiskey Bravo and Whiskey Alpha), VYCOR (commercial work boats including Storm 50, Storm 70, and Secure 30), and NAiAD (search & rescue and patrol vessels including Watchtower and Shadow series). The product architecture follows a multi-brand strategy serving defense, security, and commercial maritime sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Whiskey Bravo Tactical Watercraft Multi-mission reconnaissance tactical watercraft platform selected by the US Marine Corps for expeditionary maritime operations, with enhanced operator safety, mission effectiveness, and payload flexibility in contested and littoral environments. Already supporting operations in Okinawa, Japan.
• Whiskey Alpha Tactical Watercraft Tactical watercraft variant within the WHISKEY brand, engineered for defense and security applications including reconnaissance and special operations support.
• VYCOR Storm 50 Landing Craft Landing Craft Light (LCL) measuring 15.4m with a top speed of 26 knots, featuring reinforced bow doors and shallow draft design for beaching capability, designed for littoral operations and cargo transport.
• VYCOR Storm 70 Landing Craft Larger landing craft variant within the VYCOR Storm series, designed for heavier cargo and personnel transport operations with reinforced bow doors, shallow draft, and exceptional payload capacity.
• VYCOR Secure 30 (Marine Rescue 30) Offshore search and rescue vessel developed with stability, speed, and range for demanding SAR operations; awarded Best SAR Boat 2025 by Baird Maritime.
• NAiAD Watchtower 11.3m Patrol Boat Robust cabin boat engineered for crew protection, offshore capability, and comfort for demanding maritime patrol and rescue missions, including 11.3m jet-powered variants for SAR in challenging conditions.
• NAiAD Watchtower 10 Patrol Boat Patrol watercraft for water police operations, designed for stability, speed, and operational versatility in maritime law enforcement.
• NAiAD Watchtower 37 Patrol Boat Largest model in the Watchtower series, designed for extended patrol and maritime surveillance operations with robust cabin protection and offshore capability.
• NAiAD Shadow 24 Compact Patrol Vessel 7.5m compact, trailerable watercraft in the NAiAD Shadow series, optimized for covert surveillance, rapid deployment, and multi-environment capability from offshore to inshore, lakes, and harbors.
• Custom Design & Engineering Services Bespoke design and engineering solutions for unique maritime challenges requiring discreet on-water solutions, delivered through design innovation and project management for government and commercial clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully progressed from prototype evaluation to contracted production with US Marine Corps following extensive testing and operational assessment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Team Defence AustraliacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 April 2026Partnership for international defense industry representation. TWPG participates in events including Sea-Air-Space 2026 and SOF Week under Team Defence Australia banner, showcasing tactical watercraft platforms to global defense audiences.
• American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry membership demonstrating commitment to industry excellence and safety standards in boat building and repair. Supports US manufacturing operations and compliance with American marine industry standards.
• American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry membership supporting adherence to safety standards and best practices in boat and yacht construction. Validates commitment to quality and safety in US-manufactured watercraft.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Birdon: Australian maritime and defense engineering company delivering boats, bridging systems, and sustainment services to military and government customers. Comparable to TWPG as a fellow Australian maritime/defense platform provider with a transition into US operations.
• Austal: Australian-headquartered global defense shipbuilder producing naval vessels, high-speed aluminum catamarans, and patrol boats for the US Navy, US Coast Guard, and allied forces. Comparable as a fellow Australian-origin aluminum-vessel specialist serving US defense customers, though at materially larger scale.
• Zodiac Nautic: Global manufacturer of RIBs and inflatable boats serving military, professional, and recreational markets. Comparable to TWPG's NAiAD RHIB product line (e.g., Search & Rescue, Coastal Patrol applications), though primarily a broader portfolio incumbent rather than a pure defense specialist.

Direct peers

• Willard Marine: Long-established US builder of aluminum boats for military, government, and commercial operators, including RHIBs and patrol craft. Closely comparable to TWPG's NAiAD Watchtower and Shadow product lines and shared defense/maritime law-enforcement customer base.
• Metal Shark Boats: US aluminum boatbuilder serving military, law enforcement, and commercial markets with patrol, response, and workboat platforms. Directly comparable to TWPG on customer mix (US Navy/USCG/state agencies), build philosophy (aluminum monohull and RHIBs), and contract-driven revenue model.
• SAFE Boats International: US-based manufacturer of aluminum patrol and tactical watercraft for military, law enforcement, and first-responder customers. Highly comparable to TWPG's NAiAD and WHISKEY lines given shared defense/patrol customer base, aluminum hull construction, and similar mission profiles.
• Silver Ships: US aluminum boatbuilder specializing in patrol, response, and workboat platforms for military, homeland security, and commercial customers. Comparable to TWPG on material (aluminum), customer verticals (defense, emergency services, law enforcement), and craft size range.
• Swiftships: US-based builder of patrol boats, riverine craft, and tactical vessels for navies and law enforcement worldwide. Comparable to TWPG's WHISKEY and NAiAD product lines on customer type, hull form (aluminum monohull and RHIB), and expeditionary mission focus.
• RIBcraft: Specialist RIB manufacturer producing rigid inflatable boats for law enforcement, military, and commercial maritime operators. Comparable to TWPG on professional RHIB focus, operator-driven design philosophy, and defense/security customer segments.

Regional players

• Highfield Boats: Manufacturer of aluminum-hull RIBs and rigid inflatable boats with strong presence in Asia-Pacific and Europe. Comparable to TWPG's RHIB-heavy NAiAD line on hull construction and professional/commercial customer base, though primarily focused outside the US defense market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzRfi2L-mNMdmoVElF34Qtg
• Facebookfacebook.com/yambawelding
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-whiskey-project-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/thewhiskeyprojectgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Yamba Welding & Engineering