Rosborough Boats to develop improved RHIBs for Royal Canadian Navy

The Canadian government is granting Nova Scotia boat builder Rosborough Boats funds to design a stronger and lighter line of Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) that will be used by Canada’s Navy.

Rosborough Boats is being granted more than CAD$500,000 in the form of a repayable contribution.

The funding, provided through Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Business Development Program, will assist with the design, tooling and creation of moldings for the new line of RHIBs.

The new technology will be used to construct 12 multi-role rescue boats for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) more efficiently in a semi-custom production setting. The Rough Water™ 8.50 will be used by the Navy in all conditions where it will operate AOPS, including the harsh arctic environment. It will primarily be used as a fast rescue boat to marshal and tow lifeboats, and support the Navy’s Enhanced Naval Boarding Party.

“This project adds a new line of vessels to our Rough Water™ series of Professional Craft. The first of the new Rough Water™ D-Collar line will be built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) for the HMCS Harry DeWolf Class ships to meet the Royal Canadian Navy’s new requirements for higher performing Multi-Role RHIBs,” Rosborough Boats president Heaton Rosborough said.