• News

Fairbanks Morse to power new T-AO 205 fleet oilers

Written by Nick Blenkey
image description

T-AO 205 prop[ulsion power will be supplied by two FM-MAN 12V 48/60 CR engines

AUGUST 2, 2016 — Fairbanks Morse, an EnPro Industries company (NYSE: NPO), is to supply the main propulsion diesel engines for the USNS John Lewis, the lead ship in the U.S. Navy’s new T-AO 205 class of fleet oilers.

The ship will be powered by two FM-MAN 12V 48/60 CR engines, which will be built by Fairbanks Morse in Beloit, WI. The engines, rated at just over 19,000 bhp each, will be equipped with common rail fuel injection and engine control systems, and will meet the latest emission requirements with an exhaust gas after-treatment system.

Fairbanks Morse will also provide propulsion control systems, auxiliary equipment and commissioning services.The John Lewis is the first ship in its class and will be built by General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) in San Diego.

The double-hulled Lewis class ships will replace the Navy’s fleet of existing single-hull tankers.

Reporting the engine order, Fairbanks Morse President Marvin Riley said, “Common rail fuel injection technology reduces fuel consumption and reduces the total life cycle cost for the Navy, which provides a significant benefit to the T-AO 205 program. We are very excited about the opportunity to deliver this modern U.S.-built power solution to our trusted, long-time partner NASSCO shipbuilding.”

Mr. Riley also acknowledged the efforts of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who championed a provision in the FY 2017 Defense Appropriations Bill requiring the domestic manufacture of certain key shipboard components, including diesel engines.

“This provision has provided Fairbanks Morse and others who manufacture in the U.S. an opportunity to compete fairly for defense related work,” he said. “In addition to ensuring U.S. investment in critical portions of the U.S. shipbuilding industry, the domestic manufacture requirement provides the Department of Defense with confidence that the manufacturing industrial base will maintain its integrity far into the future.”

At present, the U.S. Navy has ordered six of the new Lewis class ships, pending appropriations, to be built over the next six years. Ultimately the program will include 17 ships, constructed over the next 17 years.

Categories: News Tags: , , ,

Leave a Reply