Aluminium RIB specialist Highfield Boats has announced the creation of Highfield PRT (Patrol / Rescue / Tactical), a dedicated division for professional marine users — and a clear ambition to become a major player in the professional segment.
Highfield Boats has formally entered the professional marine market with the launch of Highfield PRT (Patrol / Rescue / Tactical), a new division dedicated to professional operators. The move builds on the brand’s established strengths in aluminium RIB manufacturing, engineering and global distribution, and extends Highfield beyond its recreational core into law enforcement, search and rescue, patrol, military and commercial operations.
The division has been set up specifically for professional projects that demand a high level of performance, customisation and reliability — a segment the company knows well, having quietly delivered boats to professional users for several years.
A market gap, now formally addressed
According to Julien Carussi, founder of Highfield Boats and newly appointed CEO of Highfield PRT, those professional projects have grown steadily in both number and scope, revealing a genuine gap in the market.
“Highfield has been quietly delivering boats for professional users for several years now, from rescue services to patrol and workboat operators. Those projects have grown steadily in number and in scope, and it has become clear there is a real gap in the market for robust, well-built aluminium RIBs at the right value. With Highfield PRT, we are structuring ourselves to fill that gap and to become a major player in the professional segment.”
Carussi is joined at the helm of the new division by Stefanie Sun, who moves from her role as Supply Chain Director at Highfield Boats to become Director of Operations at Highfield PRT.
Three ranges, three missions
The PRT portfolio is organised around three product lines — VIPER, RAPTOR and SENTINEL — each designed for specific operational needs.
VIPER — Rapid Deployment Inflatables (3.8–5.8 m)
VIPER boats are lightweight inflatable platforms intended for military, paramilitary and emergency users who need mobility, flexibility and simple operation. Designed for rapid deployment and field inflation, they are light enough to be transported by vehicle or aircraft. Key features include high load capacity relative to platform size, adaptable rigging for military or emergency configurations, and a shallow draft for beach access. The range comprises four models: VPR380, VPR420, VPR470 and VPR580.
RAPTOR — Heavy-duty RIBs (6.6–8.7 m)
RAPTOR is a range of durable professional RIBs built for patrol, rescue, boarding and multi-role utility missions in demanding maritime environments. Applications span maritime patrol and coast guard operations, search and rescue, boarding and vessel inspection, ship-borne deployment as a tender or rescue craft, and fishery control and law enforcement. Three models make up the range: RPT660, RPT760 and RPT860.
SENTINEL — Air or foam-filled D-tube RIBs (6–11 m)
SENTINEL boats are D-tube intervention platforms combining deck space, endurance and mission adaptability for institutional, professional and military operators. Intended uses include military intervention and assault support, diver support and underwater operations, troop transport and rapid insertion, command support and offshore patrol, and search and rescue and coast guard operations. The range includes five models: SNT600, SNT660, SNT760, SNT900 and SNT1100.
Beyond the boat: an integrated marine solution
Highfield PRT positions itself not simply as a boatbuilder but as a solutions provider for professional fleets.
“At PRT, we don’t just deliver a boat – we deliver an integrated marine solution that helps professional operators successfully complete their missions at sea. Every boat is backed by our support throughout its service life, from product selection and customization to technical support, training, spare parts and after-sales service. Our goal is simple: to deliver reliable, mission-ready solutions that keep professional operators performing when it matters most.” — Stefanie Sun, Director of Operations, Highfield PRT.
What it means for the professional market
The launch signals a broader trend in the professional marine sector: institutional and commercial operators increasingly seeking durable, low-maintenance aluminium craft with proven support networks, at a value point that traditional premium defence-oriented shipyards do not always reach.
With an established global distribution network and a manufacturing base already geared to aluminium hulls, Highfield PRT enters the segment with credible industrial foundations. Whether the new division can convert that foundation into institutional contracts — in a market where procurement cycles are long and certifications demanding — will be the story to follow over the coming seasons.
For professional operators evaluating their next fleet renewal, one thing is clear: the field of mission-ready aluminium RIB suppliers has just gained a serious new contender.