Fincantieri Marine Systems North America, Inc. has completed final sea trials and propulsion engine testing at the homeport of Morgan City, La. of the United States Coast Guard’s cutter Axe.
Sea trails consisted of a full-power run and various maneuvering to test the new Isotta Fraschini Motori model V1312 KC MHL engines. The IFM engine is a high-speed diesel engine with maximum operating limit of 2100 RPM. Upon completion of the sea trials, Coast Guard engineers and crew noted that the additional Hp available allowed for around 2+ knots from the other propulsion engines.
Fincantieri Marine Systems was awarded the
Coast Guard contract in November 2004. The contract’s Scope of Supply is for four engines for the first year, with four optional years to purchase an additional four engines each year.