{{Short description|American shipbuilding and marine engineering company}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}}
'''Swiftships''' is a [[shipbuilding]] and [[marine engineering]] company headquartered in the [[Port of South Louisiana]], United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://thebossmagazine.com/swiftships-water-vessel-2/ |title=BOSS Magazine {{!}} Swiftships: The Sea's Best Aluminum Water Vessel |date=1 March 2018 |website=BOSS Magazine |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> The company operates globally<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://swiftships.com/swiftly-going-places-where-others-fear/ |title=Swiftly Going Places Where Others Fear |date=16 August 2017 |website=Swiftships |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> and specialized in the construction of small to medium sized [[Watercraft|vessels]] made of steel, aluminum or [[fiberglass]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/small/swiftships.htm |title=Swiftships |website=shipbuildinghistory.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> Swiftships is involved in ship design, construction, repair and maintenance activities.
== History == Founded by Fred Sewart in 1942, Swiftships began as Sewart Machine Works and then as Sewart Seacraft<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.yachts.com/builders%5Cmotor-yachts/Swiftship-Yachts.html |title=Yachts .com Swiftship Yachts |website=www.yachts.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> in 1946. The company became a supplier of "[[Patrol Craft Fast|Swift Boats]]" to the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] during the [[Vietnam War]] (Swiftships delivered 193 [[Patrol Craft Fast|Fast Patrol Crafts]] to the US Navy throughout the conflict).<ref name=":1" /> The mission objective of the Swift Boat was to provide the Navy with a fast boat that could patrol the river shores for enemy soldiers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/swift-boats-how-america-used-these-tiny-warships-wage-war-vietnam-61972 |title=Swift Boats: How America Used These Tiny Warships to Wage War In Vietnam |last=Network |first=Warfare History |date=10 June 2019 |website=The National Interest |language=en |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref>
In 1969 the company was renamed as Swiftships.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.workboat.com/blogs/the-hocke-net/swiftships-back-in-commercial-market/ |title=Swiftships back in commercial market |website=WorkBoat |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":0" />
Since 2004 and for the next years, Swiftships built ships for the oil and gas industry of the [[Gulf of Mexico]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.workboat.com/archived-workboat-magazine/back-to-business/ |title=Back to Business |date=9 July 2014 |website=WorkBoat |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":5" /> and restored vessels for the Dominican Republic.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diariodominicano.com/dominicana-hoy/2007/01/10/8687/entregan-dos-guardacostas-a-la-flota-naval-dominicana |title=Entregan dos guardacostas a la flota naval dominicana - Diario Dominicano |website=www.diariodominicano.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref>
The company created its first fully [[unmanned surface vehicle]] in 2015, called Anaconda (AN-1), and later the Anaconda (AN-2), for which Swiftships teamed with the [[University of Louisiana at Lafayette]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://louisiana.edu/news-events/news/20131021/swiftships-ul-lafayette-develop-unmanned-boat-military |title=Swiftships, UL Lafayette develop unmanned boat for military |date=21 October 2013 |website=University of Louisiana at Lafayette |language=en |access-date=26 April 2020 }}</ref> and augmented technology developers.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />
Since 1942 Swiftships has designed and built over 600 [[Naval ship|naval vessels]] and commercial platforms.<ref name=":2" />
In March 2026, Swiftships filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection, listing assets and liabilities between $10 million and $50 million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bondoro.com/swiftships-filing-alert/ |title=Filing Alert: Swiftships Chapter 11 |date=18 March 2026 |access-date=19 March 2026 |website=Bondoro |language=en }}</ref>
=== Co-production === In 2008 the company signed a contract with the [[Egyptian Navy]], initiating a co-production program, building vessels in-country.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/sea/sea-sea/egyptian-navy-to-get-four-more-vessels-from-swiftships/ |title=Egyptian Navy to get four more vessels from Swiftships |date=6 July 2016 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> The partnership includes a yard in Alexandria, where the company produces [[Patrol boat|patrol crafts]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.monch.com/mpg/news/maritime/2206-swiftships-strengthening-its-global-presence.html |title=Swiftships Strengthening Its Global Presence |website=www.monch.com |access-date=5 January 2020 }}</ref>
In 2009, Swiftships was awarded a contract by the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] to provide Follow on Technical Support on behalf of the [[Iraqi Navy]] that included the establishment of a Ship Repair Facility in [[Umm Qasr|Umm Qasr, Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.marinelog.com/shipyards/shipyard-news/swiftships-gets-145-million-more-for-iraq-navy-support/ |title=Swiftships gets $14.5 million more for Iraq Navy support |date=21 October 2016 |website=Marine Log |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/swiftships-shipbuilders-gets-181m-for-iraqi-navy-patrol-boats-05812/ |title=Swiftships Orders Build Iraqi Navys Coastal Patrol Capabilities |website=Defense Industry Daily |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://navaltoday.com/2017/08/02/swiftship-cleared-for-150m-iraqi-navy-support-contract/ |title=Swiftship cleared for $150m Iraqi Navy support contract |website=Naval Today |date=2 August 2017 |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2017/08/03/us-approves-150m-for-iraqi-navy-vessels-and-ship-repair/ |title=US Approves $150m for Iraqi Navy Vessels and Ship Repair |website=Iraq Business News |date=3 August 2017 |language=en-GB |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref>
=== Yards === In 2020, Swiftships operates three yards in the US and one co-production yard (JV) with the [[Egyptian Navy]] in [[Alexandria]], Egypt:
* [[Morgan City, Louisiana]]<ref name=":2" /> * [[New Iberia, Louisiana|New Iberia, Jeanerette]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iberianet.com/news/breaux-adapting-to-changing-boat-market/article_57c54f96-3401-11e9-909f-cf16b0a2e4c7.html |title=Breaux adapting to changing boat market |last=IBERIAN |first=DWAYNE FATHERREE {{!}} THE DAILY |website=The Daily Iberian |language=en |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.interlinkdc.com/3/post/2010/09/swiftships.html |title=Swiftships |website=Interlink Capital Strategies |language=en |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> Louisiana * [[Freeport, Texas]]<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |url=https://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeReporter/198108/content/swiftships-completing-freeport-205163 |title=Swiftships Completing 20-Acre Repair Yard In Freeport, Texas |website=magazines.marinelink.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> * Egyptian Shipyard Repair Building Co. - partnership with the Egyptian Navy to co-produce Swift vessels in Egypt under an approved MLA by the United States government.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://esrbc.net/currently-we-building-of-6-fast-patrol-aluminium/ |title=Currently we building of 6 fast patrol aluminium |date=13 October 2016 |website=Egyptian Ship Repair&Building Co. |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref>
== Products == Ship types include:
* [[Patrol boat|Fast Patrol Vessels]]''':''' company supplied vessels to Iraq ([[Swiftships Model 35PB1208 E-1455]]), Bahrain,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://weaponews.com/news/14847-bahrain-buys-two-american-boats-built-swiftships.html |title=Bahrain buys two American boats built Swiftships |website=weaponews.com |language=en |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> US governments and other.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/bidec_2019_news_official_online_show_daily_bahrain_defense_exhibition/bidec_2019_swift_ships_showcases_fast_patrol_vessel_and_coastal_patrol_boat.html |title=BIDEC 2019: Swift Ships showcases fast patrol vessel and coastal patrol boat |last= |first= |date= |website=www.armyrecognition.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> * [[Landing craft|Landing Craft:]] company has long-term agreement with a US government to build up to 32 new series LCU 1700 Class.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1747970// |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803180943/https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1747970/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2021 |title=Contracts for February 4, 2019 |website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/2018/04/04/navsea-awards-18m-lcu-1700-contract-louisiana-based-swiftships-llc |title=NAVSEA Picks Swiftships LLC to Design, Build LCU Replacement in $18M Contract Award |date=4 April 2018 |website=USNI News |language=en-US |access-date=26 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.defensedaily.com/topic/landing-craft-utility-lcu/ |title=Landing Craft Utility (LCU) - Defense Daily |newspaper=Defense Daily |access-date=26 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-orders-four-new-lcu-1700-utility-landing-craft-from-swiftships/ |title=Navy Orders Four New LCU 1700 Utility Landing Craft from Swiftships |last1=Burgess |first1=Richard R. |date=3 April 2020 |website=Seapower |language=en-US |access-date=26 April 2020 }}</ref> * [[Corvette]]s: Swiftships started a program with the [[Pakistan Navy]] to build multi-purpose naval platforms, 75 meter corvette, for security and high threat missions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://quwa.org/2017/10/31/pakistan-orders-two-corvettes-us-based-swiftships/ |title=Pakistan orders two corvettes from US-based Swiftships |date=31 October 2017 |website=Quwa |language=en-US |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1367859 |title=Pakistan Navy buying vessels for special operations from US company |date=2 November 2017 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref> * [[Platform supply vessel|Fast Supply Vessels]]: to Rodi Marine and other commercial groups.<ref name=":2" /> * [[Unmanned surface vehicle|Unmanned Surface Vessels- Anaconda]] (AN-2)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.navaldrones.com/AN-2_ANACONDA.html |title=AN-2 Anaconda |website=www.navaldrones.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |url=https://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MarineTechnology/201404/content/robotic-vehicles-anaconda2-467540 |title=Robotic Marine Vehicles: Meet the Anaconda-2 |website=magazines.marinelink.com |access-date=2 January 2020 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} {{PTF boat}}
[[Category:Shipbuilding companies]] [[Category:Marine engineering organizations]] [[Category:Companies based in Louisiana]] [[Category:American companies established in 1942]] [[Category:PTF boat]] [[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2026]]