Mel Composites, Aresa Shipyard collaborate on one-shot Black Falcon V2.0 vessel

Mel Composites (Barcelona, Spain), a supplier of materials, engineering and technical support for the marine composites sector, announces its latest collaboration with Aresa Shipyards (Arenys de Mar, Barcelona). Together, Aresa and Mel will build the new V2.0 version of Aresa’s Black Falcon high-speed interceptor craft. The 15.2-meter vessel will be powered by four 450-horsepower engines and will reach speeds of more than 65 knots.

Mel Composites has supplied Aresa with a complete materials package that will include precision-kitted Aircell PVC cores, quadraxial glass fiber fabrics, vinyl ester resins, vacuum consumables and a new vacuum pump for the infusion process. Mel says it will also provide full technical assistance for the mold’s dry laminate assembly, the resin infusion strategy and on-site support for one-shot infusion of the Black Falcon hull with integrated bulkheads and stringers.

Aresa Shipyard is a global shipbuilder with more than 60 years of history building steel, aluminum and, more recently, composite craft, up to 60 meters in length. The company specializes in military, defense and surveillance boats as well as ferries and other commercial craft.

The V2.0 version of the Black Falcon follows 10 V1.0 craft built for the Royal Saudi Naval Force, with the new infused composite vessel to provide a higher top speed, more options for defense systems and improved comfort for up to 17 people.

Mel Composites is currently supervising the production of the new hull with first sea trials for potential military clients planned for the end of January 2025.

“Aresa specialize in performance vessels for extremely demanding clients. For the new Black Falcon, we have tailored the composite materials to deliver exceptional performance and durability,” says Eduardo Galofre, CEO at Mel Composites. “The one-shot infusion of the hull and internal structure creates a lightweight, stiff and robust structure that will allow the V2.0 Black Falcon to perform thousands of hours of trouble-free service in the harshest possible conditions.”