Marine structures put materials through a tough combination of conditions – prolonged exposure to seawater, cyclic loading, weight constraints, structural demands, and increasingly, end-of-life requirements. The focus is therefore shifting beyond simply using composites to select the right reinforcement, resin, design approach, and bonding system for each application.
Marine composites though account for a small share of the total composites market (in terms of volume), but the penetration of composites in this industry has been rising rapidly. For those tracking the marine composites industry, we’ve compiled some of the noteworthy developments from the last quarter – July through September 2026.
Let’s have a closer look at the developments that stood out over the past quarter.
#1 Excess 11 Integrates Recyclable Composite Materials
Excess Catamarans, part of Groupe Beneteau, introduced a recyclable composite construction for its Excess 11 catamaran in September 2026, combining Elium recyclable resin with 45% recycled fiberglass.
Excess reported that the system supports a circular industrial process at series-production scale, saving 7 kg of CO₂ per boat. The company describes the development as unique in the world at series-production scale, bringing recyclable composite construction into a production catamaran.
#2 Interplastic Expands COR-Grip Pro Bonding Product Family
In September 2026, Interplastic Corporation – a marine-grade laminating resins manufacturing company, expanded its COR-Grip Pro range of bonding compounds and adhesives for composite manufacturing. The portfolio covers applications including structural bonding, core bedding, transom construction, and hull-to-deck assembly.
The expanded range also includes solutions for sprayable composite applications, along with formulations designed for fire-retardant and corrosion-resistant requirements. These properties are particularly relevant to marine structures, where bonded joints must withstand moisture, mechanical loads, and demanding service conditions.
By expanding COR-Grip Pro across different bonding and performance requirements, Interplastic is providing composite manufacturers with adhesive solutions for multiple stages of marine structure fabrication, from core installation and structural assembly to hull and deck integration.
#3 Avient Introduces Dyneema SK80 for Marine Mooring
In August 2026, Avient’s Dyneema introduced SK80, a next-generation high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) mooring fibre developed at the polymer level for demanding marine and offshore applications.
The fibre delivers at least 2× the durability and fatigue resistance of SK78, which has been used in HMPE mooring ropes for more than 20 years. This improvement is important for mooring systems that experience continuous tension, cyclic loading, and harsh marine conditions.
SK80 is designed to improve the long-term durability of mooring lines while retaining the lightweight characteristics associated with HMPE fibres. The development therefore targets longer service performance in marine and offshore mooring applications.
#4 Raytheon and CET Demonstrate All-Carbon-Fibre UUV
In August 2026, Raytheon and Composite Energy Technology (CET) demonstrated HADALUS, a 34-foot unmanned undersea vehicle with a free-flooded, all-carbon-fibre exoskeleton. The composite architecture is designed to provide high strength and payload capacity while keeping the vehicle’s cost lower than conventional long-endurance UUVs.
During a U.S. Navy exercise, HADALUS completed at-sea missions and demonstrated underwater launch while submerged, marking the first time the U.S. Navy demonstrated this integrated capability in the water. The vehicle has an endurance of more than 2,000 nautical miles and is designed to cost roughly one-third to one-fifth as much as comparable long-endurance vehicles.
Raytheon and CET progressed from concept to a complete water-tested prototype in less than 18 months, combining CET’s advanced composite vehicle architecture with Raytheon’s mission systems, sensors, launcher, and integration capabilities.
#5 Northstar RIBs Advances Composite Manufacturing with ONE-SHOT RTM
In July 2026, Northstar RIBs completed the rollout of its proprietary ONE-SHOT RTM process across its Vega Lite yacht tender range. The process fully bonds, cores, and foam-fills the hull and deck in a single manufacturing process, reducing the conventional four-stage process to two stages.
ONE-SHOT RTM cuts production time by approximately 50% and requires only a fraction of the labour. Its closed-mould manufacturing also reduces VOC emissions, while the fully foam-filled composite structure provides added rigidity, buoyancy, and structural consistency.