MN100: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation

For more than 60 years, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has built steel and aluminum commercial vessels. Located on 6.5 acres on the deepwater Taunton River in Somerset, Mass., the family-owned and operated shipyard counts more than 417 vessels built as proof of its longevity and vessel reliability. A total of 38 customers own 120 Gladding-Hearn vessels. With in-house naval architecture and engineering capabilities and a cross-trained workforce, Gladding-Hearn is well-known for applying some of the most advanced shipbuilding techniques that rival many bigger yards, while still providing the personal customer service of a smaller yard. 

Since 1955, Gladding-Hearn has been synonymous with pilot boats, having built more launches operating in the United States than any other shipyard. In 1978, the yard joined forces with designer C. Raymond Hunt to build the first launch with a deep-V hull, soon to become the industry standard. In 1977, the shipyard delivered America’s first Z-drive tractor tug. An Incat Crowther licensee since 1987, Gladding-Hearn became the second shipyard in the country to build high-speed passenger catamarans and has built the majority of East Coast and Great Lakes fast ferries. In 2014, the shipyard built the first pilot boat application of Volvo Penta’s IPS drives in the United States. Nearly 90 percent of Gladding-Hearn’s business is from repeat customers. Recent high profile deliveries include Gladding-Hearn’s second Tactical Response Vessel to the NYPD, as well as a new generation Pilot Boat for Tampa Bay Pilots. Both feature the unique C. Raymond Hunt deep-V hull.

168 Walker St.

Somerset, MA 02720

Telephone: (508) 676-8596

E-mail: peterd@gladding-hearn.com

Website: www.gladding-hearn.com

CEO/President: Peter Duclos, John Duclos

(As published in the August 2016 MN100 edition of Marine News)