Fairbanks Morse to power US Coast Guard’s new cutter

Fairbanks Morse has been awarded a contract to build and deliver the main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) for the US Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter (OPC) #2.

The USCGC Chase (WMSM-916) will be constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida, and the MPDE will be built by Fairbanks Morse at its Beloit, Wisconsin, manufacturing facility.

“Fairbanks Morse has been building engines for the US Coast Guard and US Navy since World War II,” Deepak Navnith, Fairbanks Morse President, said.

“This new generation of cutters represents one of the largest vessel procurement orders in the Coast Guard’s history and it is also the first time we’ve partnered with Eastern Shipbuilding,” Navnith added.

The 360-foot-long cutter will be powered by two diesel engines, each rated at 7,280 kW for 14,560 kW of total propulsion power.

The OPC is designed to conduct multiple missions in support of the nation’s maritime security and border protection. It will provide a capability bridge between the national security cutter (NSC), which patrols the open ocean in the most demanding maritime environments, and the fast response cutter (FRC), which serves closer to shore.

The new OPC design includes the capability of carrying an MH-60R or MH-65 Helicopter and three operational Over-The-Horizon (OTH) small boats. The vessel is also equipped with a highly sophisticated combat system and C4ISR suite that will enhance capabilities to execute the service’s missions.

Recently, Fairbanks Morse was selected to supply engines for numerous US Navy ships, including LCS 27, LPD 29 and LPD 30. The company’s engines are installed on approximately 80% of navy’s ships that have a medium speed power application.