Metal Shark Boats has delivered a new coastal patrol vessel to the naval forces of the Dominican Republic.
The aluminium-hulled, 26- by six-metre vessel has been christened Betelgeuse in keeping with the Dominican tradition of naming military vessels after constellations. It is powered by two Caterpillar C32 1,193kW engines and has onboard space for one 5.6-metre rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB).
The newbuild utilises a 26-metre patrol vessel design developed by Damen Shipyards Group.
Betelgeuse is one unit in a series of 13 patrol vessels to be built by Metal Shark for US partner nations under a US$54 million contract awarded by the US Navy.