Griffon Marine Completes MOD Commando Raiding Craft Conversion Programme

Griffon Marine has announced the successful completion of its contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to convert the Royal Marines’ Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) fleet into the advanced Commando Raiding Craft (CRC). This milestone marks a significant enhancement in in-service capability, extending the operational life of existing vessel hulls while delivering modernised performance for frontline amphibious operations.

Under the contract, Griffon Marine undertook comprehensive upgrades to the ORC platforms, transforming them into versatile, multi-purpose CRCs optimised for the demands of 21st-century littoral warfare. The programme encompassed structural refurbishment, new propulsion systems, advanced communications and navigation suites, revised crew ergonomics, and enhanced payload flexibility. The conversion also included specialist coatings and corrosion management to ensure durability in austere operational environments.

Andy Weaver, Head of Support, Griffon Marine said:

“The successful completion of the CRC conversion programme across 25 boats underscores Griffon Marine’s deep engineering expertise and our long-standing partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence. This programme represents around 70,000 man hours of skilled engineering, fabrication and systems integration work, which demonstrates our deep understanding of complex military marine platforms”

“We are proud to have delivered a step-change in craft capability that not only extends service life but provides the Royal Marines with a highly adaptable and capable asset for current and future operations.”

The CRC now offers extended operational range, increased speed, and improved manoeuvrability compared with the original ORC design. The modernised craft can be reconfigured rapidly to support a diverse range of missions, from troop insertion and extraction to unmanned aerial system deployment and specialist tasking, significantly enhancing tactical flexibility for expeditionary forces.

The conversion programme aligns with the Royal Marines’ evolving operational doctrine, supporting small, dispersed team operations across complex littoral environments — a capability demonstrated by the CRC’s deployment with operational units since its introduction.

Defence Equipment & Support Boats Team Leader Pete Lagden said:

“The successful completion of the Commando Raiding Craft (CRC) conversion programme demonstrates how Defence priorities and objectives have been met by enhancing operational capability, sustainability, and adaptability. This programme, delivered through a strong partnership with industry, aligns with the Royal Marines’ evolving operational doctrine, supporting dispersed team operations in complex littoral environments.

“By modernising 25 Offshore Raiding Craft, the project extends service life, improves performance, and ensures readiness for diverse missions. The integration of advanced systems and durability measures reflects a commitment to innovation and through-life support, directly contributing to Defence’s goal of maintaining a capable, agile, and sustainable force. An excellent collective whole team effort”.

Griffon Marine remains committed to providing through-life support and engineering excellence to the UK’s defence community, enabling sustainable maritime capability for decades to come.