Fairbanks Morse engines to power US Navy’s newest LPD ship

Provider of power solutions Fairbanks Morse has been awarded a purchase order by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to build and deliver the four main propulsion diesel engines that will power the US Navy’s newest landing platform/dock ship, LPD 31.

The ship is the second of thirteen in the LPD Flight II class of ships.

“The LPD Flight II ships will be a critical part of the Navy’s expeditionary warfare mission set, which includes opposed landings, and we take great pride in making engines that may go in harm’s way. Because of the common rail fuel injection technology that goes into each engine, we are able to reduce lifetime operation and maintenance costs by increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing emissions,” George Whittier, Fairbanks Morse CEO, commented.

Based on the existing San Antonio-class hull, the LPD Flight II design has been modified with several additional features including an improved flight deck, a well deck, hospital facilities, and defensive features. The LPD Flight II ships also have sufficient vehicle and cargo capacities to support and sustain more than 500 combat-equipped Marines for up to 30 days.

The four sequentially turbocharged 16-cylinder FM | Colt-Pielstick PC 2.5 diesel engines feature common rail fuel injection technology and will deliver over 31 MW of propulsion power. The common rail system technology uses a high-pressure fuel header, high-pressure pumps, electronically controlled fuel delivery, an electronic governing system, and a new control system to deliver the optimal amount of fuel.

Among the largest medium-speed diesel engines manufactured in the United States, they will allow the LPD 31 to cruise at speeds over 22 knots. The engines will be delivered to HII in Pascagoula, Mississippi where Fairbanks Morse will support the installation, testing, and sea trials for the LPD 31.