FRANKLIN, LA (AP) — Metal Shark Aluminum Boats has signed a contract with the Defense Department to build patrol boats for Vietnam's Coast Guard.
Metal Shark Vice President Greg Lambrecht tells The Advocate’s Billy Gunn the company hopes to begin building the boats in July. Lambrecht would not say what the dollar amount of the contract was or how many of the 40-knot cruising Defiant 75 boats the company will build.
Lambrecht says the Franklin shipyard will handle the Vietnam order, which is still in the contracting stage.
Metal Shark produces 150 to 200 boats a year for the Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and for the state's sheriff's offices.
And it builds patrol boats for foreign governments and sends training teams internationally.
