Your source for business and chamber news in the Greater Kingston Area November 4, 2013
Vol. 2 NO. 10
Local business shines on the world stage By Hiba Kesebi Reporter
Many of the fireboats used to put out fires across the world were built here in Kingston by the city’s very own MetalCraft Marine. The company prides itself in building high performance custom workboats including fireboats, special boats for the United States navy and coast guard, as well as petrol boards, research vessels, pollution response vessels and hybrid boats. It is an industry leading manufacturer, and MetalCraft Marine’s General Manager, Michael Allen, says the success the company has seen is largely due to the talent they’ve found in Kingston. “What we build are highly customized boats that require a great deal of skill in terms of craftsmanship to build, and we find people here that love boats and want to be the best boat builders in the world,” says Allen. “People here are passionate about building and passionate about making each boat better than the one before.” The company currently employs approximately 130 full time craftsmen and engineers in its head office in Kingston. Today, employees at MetalCraft Marine are busy completing the third of three 70-foot fireboats for the Port of Houston. “Each one of these fireboats sell for about $5 million and are best in class
in terms of speed, pumping capabilities and reliability,” says Allen. It takes around 10 months – 20,000 hours – to build a 70-foot fireboat. The company first meets with its customers to find out what their mission is and then begins the design of the craft. Once that’s created, aluminum is brought on site and metal fitters and aluminum wielders work on putting the boat MetalCraft Marine staff stand onboard one of the boats manufactured for the Boston Fire Department together. With the per minute. So it can get to the scene Zealand. merous awards for its boats includboat structure inAllen says there are currently 30 ing 2002, 2009 and 2010 Boat of tact, the company’s electricians and in a hurry, put out the fire, and save mechanical personnel put up all the people’s lives in a timely and effec- people enrolled in the apprenticeship The Year by the International Workprogram. boat Organization show in New Orelectrical elements, engines and win- tive manner,” he notes. Fireboats manufactured by Metal“It takes five years to become a leans, the largest workboat show in dows. Though the company builds sev- Craft Marine are shipped out across fully certified aluminum boat build- the world. The company was also eral types of work boats, it has revo- the globe including “Zambia, all er – we are the only company in the named the Greater Kingston Chamlutionized the industry when it comes through the United States and the world that New Zealand has confi- ber of Commerce Large Business of Panama Canal,” adds Allen. dence in to license [the apprentice- the Year in 2011 and, more recently, to the fireboat, says Allen. In addition to revolutionizing the ship program] and what sets us apart it received the 2012 Achievement “Before the fireboat was a relatively slow moving boat that did not fireboat, the Kingston based compa- is our investment in people and the Award. For more information about Metpump much water. Now it is a high ny is also the only one in the world to investment that our people make in alCraft Marine visit: http://metalspeed vessel that is very sophisticat- run a special apprenticeship program learning their craft.” MetalCraft Marine has won nu- craftmarine.com ed. It can pump over 15,000 gallons developed by the government of New
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