What is the ARES BOLD class? Composite offshore patrol boats
The ARES BOLD class is Ares Shipyard’s flagship family of composite-hulled offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) covering the 24 to 48 meter range. The class consists of the ARES 75, 85, 110, 115 and 150 BOLD models and is the current designation for platforms previously marketed under the HERCULES name. All three configurations of the 17-boat 2014 contract built for the Qatar Coast Guard came from this family.
Which models make up the class?
The company’s official product catalog lists the class as five models. The numbers in model names indicate the vessel’s approximate length in feet; the ARES 150 BOLD, for example, is 48.09 meters long, while the ARES 75 BOLD sits in the roughly 24-meter class. The company states that all models use advanced composites as the hull material and that the designs are certified to the standards of IACS-member classification societies. It has also said that the cooperation with British design house BMT, which began in 2014, was applied to the design of this family.
ARES 150 BOLD: the largest member of the class
According to the official product page, the ARES 150 BOLD is 48.09 meters long, 8.95 meters in beam and has a draft of 1.78 meters. With three diesel engines and waterjets it reaches a top speed of 35 knots and a range of 1,600 nautical miles. The weapons fit consists of 12.7 mm and 30 mm remote-controlled weapon stations; the aft deck can carry two ARES 24 HARPOON fast interceptor craft. The company states that the platform recorded 37 knots during sea trials and that this makes it the world’s fastest OPV; this classification is a manufacturer claim. A technical comparison of the platform with its foreign counterparts is examined in a separate file.
Technical comparison
| Model | Length | Units in the Qatar program | Notable feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARES 75 BOLD | ~24 m | 5 | Coastal patrol, shallow draft |
| ARES 85 BOLD | ~26 m | Oman: 14 (as ARES 85 HERCULES) | Speed of up to 55 knots (company data) |
| ARES 110 BOLD | ~34 m | 10 | Multi-role patrol, RCWS |
| ARES 115 BOLD | ~35 m | – | Extended mission profile |
| ARES 150 BOLD | 48.09 m | 2 + 3 (2018 follow-on order) | 1,600 nm range, carries 2 boats |
The unit counts in the table were compiled from Defence Turkey and Naval Today reporting on the 2014 and 2018 Qatar contracts; length figures were taken from the official product pages. No announced order record could be found for the ARES 115 BOLD.
Who operates the class?
The family’s verified operators are the Coast Guard Command of the Qatari Ministry of Interior and the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard. Under the 2014 contract, Qatar received 5 boats of 24 meters, 10 of 34 meters and 2 of 48 meters; the 2018 follow-on order added 3 ARES 150s and 6 ARES 80 SATs. Oman ordered 14 ARES 85 HERCULES boats, with the first delivered in December 2019. Details are covered in the export file. Whether talks are under way with other countries is not officially disclosed.
Frequently asked questions
Are the BOLD class and HERCULES the same thing?
Yes. The platforms referred to as HERCULES in the Qatar and Oman programs are listed as the BOLD class in the company’s current catalog; the image directory paths on the official website still carry the old class name.
What is the range of the ARES 150 BOLD?
According to the official product page, 1,600 nautical miles. Endurance at economical cruising speed is not officially disclosed.
Why a composite hull?
The company states that the composite hull provides weight and corrosion advantages, allowing higher speeds than steel vessels of the same length. This approach lets the ARES 150 BOLD reach 35 knots at 48 meters.
What weapons does the class carry?
The ARES 150 BOLD lists 12.7 mm and 30 mm remote-controlled weapon stations along with electro-optical sensors. Weapon configurations for the other models vary by customer and are not detailed on the official pages.
Does the Turkish Coast Guard operate BOLD boats?
There is no verified BOLD delivery. The Turkish Coast Guard’s Ares program is the 105-unit order for the ARES 35 FPB.
Sources and verification note
Technical figures were taken from the official product pages, and order quantities from the independent defense press. Accessed: August 13, 2026.
- https://ares.global/vessels/patrol/ares-150-bold
- https://ares.global/vessels/patrol
- https://www.defenceturkey.com/en/content/ares-shipyard-world-s-greatest-composite-hull-ship-manufacturer-early-delivers-the-multi-role-patrol-crafts-to-qatari-coast-guard-command-2907
- https://www.navaltoday.com/2018/03/22/qatari-coastguard-orders-nine-more-vessels-from-ares-bmt/
- https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2018/ares-shipyard-to-supply-14-fast-patrol-vessels-to-oman
- https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/12/ares-shipyard-delivers-first-ares-85-hercules-fast-patrol-craft-to-oman/
- https://ares.global/media-center/news/the-worlds-fastest-opv
- https://ares.global/media-center/news/bmt-partners-with-ares-shipyard-to-deliver-17-patrol-boats-for-qatar-coast-guard
