The following is the text of a news release from Rolls-Royce:
(LONDON) — Rolls-Royce will provide an extensive range of equipment, including MTU marine generator sets, to a new fleet of U.S. Coast Guard offshore patrol cutters. The equipment was selected by Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. for the USCG OPC fleet’s first nine vessels, with an option to add two more.
Rolls-Royce will supply the USCG OPC fleet’s controllable-pitch propellers (CPP), shaft lines and Promas rudders, which offer increased propulsive efficiency and improved maneuverability. The Promas rudder combined with the water soluble polyalkylene glycol lubricant used in the CPP system delivers an efficient and environmentally friendly propulsion solution. Rolls-Royce will also supply bow thrusters, steering gear, fin stabilizers and MTU marine generator sets.
Four EPA Tier 3 compliant MTU 12-cylinder Series 4000 (1000kW) generator sets will provide each vessel with electrical and loiter propulsion power. The units are Naval Vessel Rules (NVR) certified by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
The new vessels will replace the USCG’s fleet of medium-endurance cutters, providing a capability bridge between the national security cutter (NSC) fleet, which is equipped with Rolls-Royce controllable-pitch propellers and bow thrusters, and the fast response cutter (FRC) fleet, which operates closer to shore.
The new offshore patrol cutters will be built at ESG’s shipbuilding facility in Panama City, Fla. Construction will begin in 2018 with delivery of the first vessel scheduled for 2021. The Coast Guard plans to build a total of 25 OPCs.
This contract follows the recent announcement relating to the supply of power and propulsion equipment for another major multi-vessel governmental shipbuilding program, the US Navy’s John Lewis class. Rolls-Royce technology and equipment has been selected for this 17 ship fleet of oilers which will significantly increase the U.S. Navy’s capability to transfer fuel to its surface ships in operations around the globe.
