Swiftships to Build Up Iraqi Navy’s Coastal Patrol Capabilities
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Swiftships’ 35-meter patrol boat contract is part of a larger program that also delivers spare parts, guns, ammunition, training, naval simulators and infrastructure to the Umm Qasr Naval Base in southern Iraq. To expand capabilities at the naval base, the US Army Corps of Engineers is partnering with Iraq by managing a $53 million pier and seawall project. The new project in southern Iraq will provide the Iraqi Navy with new port facilities as it continues to expand its military naval capabilities. The total program for the Iraqi Navy is the 3rd largest case of foreign military sales to Iraq, according to the Bullhorn, the newsletter of the Pensacola Council of the Navy League.
Swiftships 35-meter coastal patrol boats (CPBs) are an important part of that program, as Iraq seeks to monitor and protect its southern oil export infrastructure. The latest additions include additional background about the ships themselves, and additional contract background as well…
- Iraq’s Swiftships [NEW]
- Contracts & Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings [NEW]
Iraq’s Swiftships
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The original Swiftship Interceptor design was a 40+ knot high-speed, waterjet-powered 35 meter patrol boat for a Central American county, but it’s still awaiting funding. The “gray hull” picture here is a slower version that was produced for another country Swiftships declined to name, and the green Fort Jefferson that headlines this article is a propeller-driven derivative of that variant.
The Iraqis specified that they wanted propellers, so their Swift Interceptor patrol boats are closer to the Fort Jefferson than to the “haze grey” picture. Other differences from the photographs here will include moving the upper bridge forward; armoring on the lower bridge, upper bridge, and bridge wings; and armaments. Armament will includes the 30mm MSI deck gun system forward, a .50 cal machine gun aft on the 01 level, and 7.62 machine guns on the bridge wings. Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine provides the integrated Bridge, CIC, and Radio Room equipment.
Swiftships Model 35PB1208 E-1455 specifications include:
Hull Length: 115’-0” / 35.06 m
Beam: 23’ 9-1/2” / 7.25 m
Max Draft (Navigational): 8’-6” / 2.59 m
Depth (Midship): 11’-10” / 3.61 m
Engine Package: 3 MTU 16V2000 Marine Diesels
Propulsors: 3 Propellers
ABS Classification: A1-HSNC-Coastal Naval Craft – AMS.
Water Capacity: 1000 Gallons / 3,785 Liters
Fuel Capacity: 7,000 Gallons / 26,495 Liters
Maximum Range: 1,500 Nautical Miles @ 12 knots
Endurance: 6 Days
Accommodations: 21 Crew, 4 Officers
Carries: RIB Willard aluminum hull high-speed 7 meter jet Rigid Inflatable Boat
Armament: MSI International DS30M-A2 30mm remotely-operated gun system, .50 cal/ 12.7mm machine gun, 2×7.62 machine guns.
MSI’s 30mm RWS system will be very consequential. As South Korea has proven several times, a patrol boat equipped with a main gun that integrates advanced sensors, ballistic computing, and RWS control will severely punish or sink enemy vessels that depend on hand-aimed guns of similar or greater calibers.
This triple-screw diesel-powered patrol boat can be refueled at sea using side by side procedures, and runs on #2 diesel fuel. The hull and superstructure are constructed of aluminum alloy, all welded, in accordance with approved codes. The hull includes 7 watertight bulkheads forming 8 watertight compartments. The superstructure has an enclosed upper bridge with open bridge wings for armament and navigation capability, with an enclosed pilothouse forward.
The boat can comfortably undertake at-sea missions for up to 6 days, with an expected operational time of about 1,500 hours of operation per year. Weather survivability includes Sea State 5 survival at the best heading, and full operational capability at Sea State 3 including 20 knot patrol speed and 10 knot sustained loitering speed for 12 hours. In calm water the boat is reasonably fast, 30 knots (about 34.5 mph/ 55.5 kmh) maximum speed at full load.
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The comparable Fort Jefferson was built for the US National Park Service as a top end crew boat with both visitor berthing and cargo capacity, to operate out of Key West FL. It supports the Park on the Dry Tortugas. Shortly after Fort Jefferson’s delivery, however, the USCG encountered serious problems with its newly recondition and stretched Island Class Coast Guard Patrol Boats. Those ships would end up being scrapped, and to cover the gap, the USCG borrowed the Fort Jefferson and used her as a US Coast Guard patrol boat for some time.
Egypt operates a smaller coastal patrol type, the Swift Protectors. Swiftships describes these 6 boats as “the baby sisters of the 35 meter design,” as they were designed later on. Those 25 meter Egyptian craft use waterjets that push them to 40 knots, and have a crew of 12 rather than 25.
Contracts and Key Events
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Dec 7/09: VSD, LLC announces a sub-contract from Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC to provide the Iraqi Navy with over 23 million in training and training systems. VSD, LLC will develop and deliver training, and manage the team of contractors in the development of the training systems. Those systems will include a Full Mission Bridge Trainer, a Small Arms Trainer, and a Fire Fighting Trainer. The firm will oversee the training of approximately 100 Iraqi sailors in Morgan City, LA over the next year.
Other team members involved in this effort include Q.E.D. Systems, Inc., based in Virginia Beach, and Northrop Grumman Electronics Systems Division in Ocean Springs, MS. VSD expects that more than 15 new full-time jobs will be created by this effort in its Virginia Beach area, and more than 30 new full-time positions overall. Managing Director Chuck Wythe does sound a note that’s both porud and cautionary, however, when he says that:
“This program is extraordinarily fast-paced and there is little room for error in execution. I am especially proud of all the work the team has put in to achieve the impossible in getting this program underway within the time constraints that were imposed.”
Oct 1/09: Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC in Morgan City, LA receives a $23.6 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide 35-meter patrol boat training in support of the Iraqi Navy. Training will involve the use of simulators, the provision of spare parts, patrol boat training inclusive of course development, execution of the training curricula, and other incidentals such as berthing and messing for Iraqi sailors.
Work will be performed in Morgan City, LA, and is expected to be complete in September 2010. All contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL (N61339-09-C-0034).
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Sept 25/09: Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC in Morgan City, LA receives a sole source $181 million fixed-price letter contract for the detail design and construction of 9 patrol boats, 6 30mm DS30M-A2 gun systems from MSI Defence Systems in Norfolk, UK; plus machine gun mounts and cradles, spare parts, and contractor engineering technical services.
This contract is in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Case IQ –P-SAZ and U.S. Case E4-P-LBT. Funds for 6 of the boats comes from the Iraqi Security Force Funds (ISFF) appropriated in the FY 2007 war supplemental. The ISFF program manages the purchase of defense equipment for Iraq.
Swiftships will perform the work in Morgan City, LA (60%); Detroit, MI (30%); Ocean Springs, MS (8%); and Charlottesville, VA (2%) and expects to complete it by August 2012. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) manages the contract (N00024-09-C-2256).
July 2/09: The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announces via FedBizOpps that it intends to issue solicitation N00024-09-R-2256 on a sole-source basis to Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC of Morgan City, LA to provide the Iraqi Navy a fully capable and sustainable maritime security patrol boat fleet of up to 15 Coastal Patrol Boats (CPBs).
Swiftships Shipbuilders will be responsible for the detail design, construction, outfitting and documentation for all CPBs. Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC was deemed to be the only source that makes the CPBs with the Model 35PB1208 E-1455 and data rights, as directed by the Iraqi Government through a foreign military case. In NAVSEA’s opinion, this firm has the requisite background knowledge and experience required.
Dec 10/08: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Iraq’s formal request to buy up to 20 Coastal Patrol Boats in the 30-35meter range, and 3 Offshore Support Vessels in the 55-60 meter range. Boats would be equipped with the Seahawk MS1-DS30MA2 mount using a 30×173mm chain gun and short range Browning M2-HB .50 cal machine gun.
The contracts would also include spare and repair parts,weapon system software, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, and various forms of U.S. Government and contractor support. The estimated cost is up to $1.01 billion.
The principal contractor is unknown at this time of the release, however, acquisition is subject to FAR and DFARS domestic sourcing requirements. There are no known industrial offset agreements planned, but implementation of these sales will require the assignment of 2 contractor representatives in Iraq for a period of 8 years.
Additional Readings
- Montrose Toast – Iraqi Security Force Order of Battle
- Jane’s (Sept 12/07) – Seahawk family nests at DSEi. Covers MSI’s gun systems, which are being mounted on Britain’s Type 23 frigates, and on several countries’ coastal patrol vessels.
