Moose Awarded U.S. DOT Contract

Aluminum boat maker Moose Boats won a contract from the Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD), for the construction of two Moose 340C Catamaran Patrol Boats. These patrol boats will be assigned to the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet located in Benicia, Calif. The Suisun Bay Fleet consists of dry cargo ships, tankers, military auxiliaries and other types of reserve ships in the custody of the Maritime Administration. The Moose 340C is a 37.5 ft., all-aluminum Jet Powered Catamaran with twin Cummins 380 hp turbo diesels and is propelled by Hamilton 292 water jets. This vessel can attain a top speed of over 34 knots, cruise at almost 30 knots, come to a full-speed stop in less than two boat lengths, according to the manufacturer. Its 21-in. draft will allow all of this to be done in less than 3-ft. of water, valuable for patrol in the Suisun Bay. Moose Boats currently has a contract with the U.S. Navy to build 13 340Cs, and over the past 18 months 11 have been delivered.