UNITED STATES - 10 JUNE 2009
Sea trials of the US Navys landmark Austal-designed and built 127-metre Littoral Combat Ship Independence (LCS 2) are expected to commence within weeks following the successful light off of the vessels main engines.
Austal completed light off of the vessels four propulsion engines - two 22,000kW GE LM2500 gas turbines and two MTU 9,100kW 20V 8000 M71 diesels - following the fuel load and the testing of all four generators.
Activation and testing of the combat and other systems onboard Independence is continuing at Austals US facility in Mobile, Alabama, with delivery of the vessel expected later in the year.
Austal USA President and COO, Joe Rella, commented, Austal USA continues to establish its rightful place as one of the worlds premium shipbuilders. The successful achievement of this major milestone is another example of Austals commitment to the LCS programs goal of completing sea trials and delivering the LCS 2 to the Navy as quickly as possible.
Austal is the vessel designer and builder within the General Dynamics team, one of two consortiums involved in the US Navys LCS program, which ultimately calls for the construction of 55 Littoral Combat Ships.
The vessels GE LM2500 gas turbines each develop 22,000kW (29,500 bhp). More than 750 of these gas turbines power the US Navys fleet, making it the standard workhorse engine in almost all US Navy surface combatant ships. In addition, they are installed in more than 400 other ships in 30 countries, including an Austal-designed and built fast ferry operating in Denmark.
Delivering up to 9,100kW (12,200 bhp) of continuous power, the vessels MTU Series 8000 diesel engines have a fuel consumption of less than 190g/kWh, while achieving IMO MARPOL NOx emission certification. Austal has previously installed and commissioned 32 MTU 20V 8000 diesels, proven in operation on eight vessels over the past five years. These include four engines in the 127 metre trimaran Benchijigua Express, which has been successfully operating in the Canary Islands for over four years. Worldwide, MTU Series 8000 marine propulsion engines have completed more than 240,000 hours of operation.
The 127-metre Austal trimaran seaframe is the platform for the LCSs mission and weapon systems, providing superior seakeeping and aviation capability as a result of its long, slender central hull and smaller side hulls.
The aluminium trimaran provides a large internal mission deck with a high payload carrying capacity in addition to the increase in seakeeping and propulsion efficiency. Located above the mission bay is the enormous flight deck capable of conducting H-60 helicopter operations and designed to operate the Firescout VTUAV.
The vertical location of the flight deck on the trimaran hull form provides the highest flight deck elevation, out of the waves and sea spray, on a combatant ship other than a major amphibious vessel or aircraft carrier.
Last month, the US Navy announced a fixed price incentive contract for the construction of a second Austal-designed and built Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Source: Austal
Sea trials of the US Navys landmark Austal-designed and built 127-metre Littoral Combat Ship Independence (LCS 2) are expected to commence within weeks following the successful light off of the vessels main engines.
Austal completed light off of the vessels four propulsion engines - two 22,000kW GE LM2500 gas turbines and two MTU 9,100kW 20V 8000 M71 diesels - following the fuel load and the testing of all four generators.
Activation and testing of the combat and other systems onboard Independence is continuing at Austals US facility in Mobile, Alabama, with delivery of the vessel expected later in the year.
Austal USA President and COO, Joe Rella, commented, Austal USA continues to establish its rightful place as one of the worlds premium shipbuilders. The successful achievement of this major milestone is another example of Austals commitment to the LCS programs goal of completing sea trials and delivering the LCS 2 to the Navy as quickly as possible.
Austal is the vessel designer and builder within the General Dynamics team, one of two consortiums involved in the US Navys LCS program, which ultimately calls for the construction of 55 Littoral Combat Ships.
The vessels GE LM2500 gas turbines each develop 22,000kW (29,500 bhp). More than 750 of these gas turbines power the US Navys fleet, making it the standard workhorse engine in almost all US Navy surface combatant ships. In addition, they are installed in more than 400 other ships in 30 countries, including an Austal-designed and built fast ferry operating in Denmark.
Delivering up to 9,100kW (12,200 bhp) of continuous power, the vessels MTU Series 8000 diesel engines have a fuel consumption of less than 190g/kWh, while achieving IMO MARPOL NOx emission certification. Austal has previously installed and commissioned 32 MTU 20V 8000 diesels, proven in operation on eight vessels over the past five years. These include four engines in the 127 metre trimaran Benchijigua Express, which has been successfully operating in the Canary Islands for over four years. Worldwide, MTU Series 8000 marine propulsion engines have completed more than 240,000 hours of operation.
The 127-metre Austal trimaran seaframe is the platform for the LCSs mission and weapon systems, providing superior seakeeping and aviation capability as a result of its long, slender central hull and smaller side hulls.
The aluminium trimaran provides a large internal mission deck with a high payload carrying capacity in addition to the increase in seakeeping and propulsion efficiency. Located above the mission bay is the enormous flight deck capable of conducting H-60 helicopter operations and designed to operate the Firescout VTUAV.
The vertical location of the flight deck on the trimaran hull form provides the highest flight deck elevation, out of the waves and sea spray, on a combatant ship other than a major amphibious vessel or aircraft carrier.
Last month, the US Navy announced a fixed price incentive contract for the construction of a second Austal-designed and built Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Source: Austal
