Wrtsil Donates Controllable Pitch Propulsion System to USMMA

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions provider, has donated a controllable pitch propulsion system to the Engineering Department at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. A dedication ceremony on April 24, served as recognition of the full scale training equipment that will be installed in an engineering lab at the USMMA campus in Kings Point, New York.

The donated equipment includes a Wärtsilä 4D 775 controllable pitch propeller (CPP), 3.4 meters/11.2 feet in diameter, complete with the propeller shaft, stern tube with bearings, forward and after stern tube seals, rope guard, and a hydraulic shaft coupling. Wärtsilä has also donated the Lipstronic 7000 propulsion control system, bridge, wing and engine room control stations, operator’s display and power supply to provide the complete CPP system. This propulsion package offers the Midshipmen of USMMA the hands-on experience of understanding and managing such equipment as future leaders of the shipping industry.

The engineering students enrolled in ship operations, system design and shipyard management classes will have these full-scale tools that are housed in the Academy’s labs.  The CPP system also provides opportunity for the marine transportation students to have a greater understanding of ship propulsion systems.

Wärtsilä is a leading company designing and producing controllable pitch propellers for a large range of vessels, including merchant, special, offshore and cruise vessels. The Wärtsilä controllable pitch propeller is a unique product, its first design dates back to 1903. This wealth of experience together with the latest innovative designs is reason for the more than 10,000 installations installed and sailing worldwide.

The Industry – Education relationship between Wärtsilä and Kings Point dates back over 35 years.  Wärtsilä has supported the Academy and its midshipman throughout the years.  The most noteworthy equipment supplied prior to the current CPP donation includes a single cylinder 2 stroke slow speed RTA engine, an operational 8 cylinder Wärtsilä medium speed engine and many engine components.

“To partially offset the high costs of fuel it has been proven that quick efficiency gains occur through the efforts of trained crews and staff.  Our CPP system donation supports the education and training of our future maritime leaders. The midshipmen now have the opportunity to observe, operate and work on this critical ship’s system prior to attending a vessel’s dry-docking period. This donation aligns with Wärtsilä’s focus to support the maritime industry with their ‘shorter routes to bigger profits’,” stated Paul Glandt, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä North America, Inc.

To mark the occasion, Wärtsilä hosted a gathering at USMMA’s Wiley Hall to celebrate the donation and highlight the educational advancement that this equipment will provide to the midshipmen of the academy.

Photo from the dedication ceremony (Left to Right): Frank Donnelly, President Wärtsilä North America, Inc., Capt. Peter Kahl, Assistant Professor of Engineering USMMA, Dr. Shashi Kumar, Superintendent USMMA, Paul Glandt, Sales Manager, Wärtsilä North America, Inc. David Matsuda, MARAD Administrator, John Hatley, Vice President Ship Power, Americas, Wärtsilä, Dr. David Palmer, Academic Head of Marine Engineering, USMMA, Atte Palomäki, Group Vice President, Communications and Branding, Wärtsilä, John Kennedy, Director Services Unit USA, Wärtsilä