In January 2014, Metal Shark acquired a 25-acre waterfront parcel in Franklin, Louisiana, and announced the construction of a new shipyard with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Starting from a blank slate, Metal Shark designed this new facility from the ground up to accommodate the latest serialized production methodologies, with flexibility and future expansion in mind. Operations at Franklin commenced in July, 2014 in a new 60,000 square foot assembly building featuring four assembly bays equipped with overhead cranes. Additional amenities included protected deepwater berths, crane-in / crane-out launch capabilities, onsite offices for engineering and production management, and ample room for storage and staging. In April 2016, Metal Shark was awarded a small shipyard grant by the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). In October 2016, Metal Shark installed a new 150’ x 80’ auxiliary structure for final assembly which was funded in part by the MARAD Grant. A new 160-ton Marine Lift transporter arrived in early 2017 to facilitate the movement of boats around the yard and to water for launch. With a significant expansion project now underway, Metal Shark’s Franklin yard is one of the most modern and capable shipyards along the Gulf Coast.

 

Since its opening, Metal Shark’s Franklin yard has produced and delivered a wide range of monohull and catamaran dive support vessels, fireboats, patrol boats for US and foreign militaries, response vessels for state and local law enforcement agencies, passenger ferries and commercial head boats, pilot boats, port security vessels, and other custom-built platforms for numerous commercial operators. Vessels offered and constructed at Franklin include a wide range of Metal Shark’s Defiant and Endurance-class designs, as well as designs by leading independent design firms. Expansion is currently underway at Franklin to accommodate the wide range of construction projects slated for 2017, 2018, and beyond.

 

In July 2016, Metal Shark was selected by HNY Ferry Fleet, LLC (a Hornblower company) to build 88′, Incat Crowther-designed, 150-passenger high-speed ferries for its new NYC Ferry Service. By incorporating the same serialized building processes honed on its military fleet builds, Metal Shark built and delivered the entire six-vessel order in record time. With less than ten months’ time from project start to the delivery of the first vessel, Metal Shark delivered all six ferries on or ahead of schedule, between April and June, 2017. NYC Ferry officially launched on May 1, 2017, with Metal Shark-built H 102 given the honors of ferrying the first load of customers on the new service’s inaugural revenue trip. Metal Shark is proud to count HNY Ferry Fleet, Hornblower, and NYC Ferry among its growing list of satisfied customers. In January 2017, Metal Shark was awarded a contract to build passenger vessels for Entertainment Cruises’ Potomac Riverboats division. Four of the 26-meter, 150-passenger ferries, which were designed by BMT Designers & Planners, are being built by Metal Shark at Franklin. Also in January 2017, Metal Shark was awarded a contract to build two 105′, 150-passenger ferries for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority. Click here to learn more about Franklin’s passenger vessel construction capabilities. 

 

Metal Shark’s Franklin yard offers the unmatched benefits of an in-house engineering team composed of over 60 naval architects and marine engineers. Metal Shark leverages this formidable resource to create its own highly specialized and thoroughly engineered vessel designs and also to interface seamlessly with outside engineering firms to assure precision results. Metal Shark works with leading design firms including Incat Crowther, BMT Designers and Planners, BMT Nigel Gee, One2Three Designs, Marine Design, Jutson Design, Damen Shipyards and others to offer technologically advanced vessels that are custom-tailored to meet exacting customer requirements. Metal Shark goes above and beyond, utilizing extensive 3D modeling to allow the project to be realized in advance, greatly facilitating planning, resource allocation, and an exact interpretation of each vessel’s design for precision, quality results. Metal Shark backs up this engineering strength with the support of highly capable, industry veteran project managers who are tasked with keeping each project on time and on budget. 

 

To meet growing needs, in 2017 Metal Shark commenced construction of a fully enclosed, 200’ x 80’ large vessel assembly building enabling weather-independent construction of vessels up to 180 feet in length. Additionally, a new stand-alone office building with over 8,000 sf of space for Franklin executive, engineering, project management, and administrative personnel was added. Both buildings were fully operational by early 2018.

Situated on the Charenton canal, Metal Shark’s Franklin shipyard offers direct unobstructed deepwater access to the Gulf of Mexico. The yard is located immediately off Louisiana Highway 90 for easy over-the-road transport of large components, and the site plan offers ample room for future growth. Franklin currently supports aluminum, steel, and composite shipbuilding for vessels up to 250’.

Learn more about our Jeanerette Production Facility and Alabama Shipyard.

Metal Shark has been recognized by the Shipbuilders Council of America for its leading safety practices. Click here to learn more.