Eastern Shipbuilding Selects MAN for US Coast Guard OPC Program

The US Coast Guard (USCG) will have MAN’s 28/33D STC engines installed as the main propulsion for its new Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. The program is the replacement platform for the 13 ‘Famous’ class and 14 ‘Reliance’ class cutter vessels, making the order the largest vessel procurement order in the Coast Guard’s history.

Lex Nijsen – Head of Four-Stroke Marine – MAN Diesel & Turbo, said: “We are very pleased to have won this major order within such a key, domestic market. It’s a breakthrough for us as this is the first time that the USCG has ordered MAN 28/33D STC engines. Indeed, the engine’s sequential turbocharging (STC) concept continues to make inroads into the Navy and Governmental segments where its inherent power characteristics offer a maneuverability that matches such demanding applications well. This success was achieved in great part through close cooperation with our longstanding partner and licensee, Fairbanks Morse Engine (FME).”

Each of the new 360-foot (110-m) cutters will be powered by two (2) MAN 16V28/33D STC engines, developing 7,280 kW each @ 1,000 rpm. FME will produce and test the engines at its Beloit, Wisconsin plant, while Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc., based in Panama City, Florida, will design and construct the OPC ships. Initially, the USCG has ordered nine (9) ships with plans to ultimately produce 25. Delivery of the first ship of the class to the USCG is scheduled for 2021.