Converteam has been selected as the supplier of Integrated Power Systems (IPS) to the U.S. Navy with the award of an additional multi-million dollar contract to design and supply the complete electric power, propulsion and vessel automation system for the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. The MLP program adds to Converteam’s market leadership experience with the U.S. Navy’s IPS fleet, which includes DDG 1000, T-AKE, LHD 8 and LHA 6.
The MLP vessels are a new class and type of auxiliary support ship. They’re intended to serve as a transfer station or floating pier at sea, improving the U.S. military’s ability to deliver equipment and cargo from ship-to-shore when friendly bases are denied, or simply don’t exist. That’s very useful in disaster situations, and equally useful for supporting U.S. Marines once they’re ashore.
Under contract, General Dynamics NASSCO has commissioned Converteam to provide IPS, including the tandem propulsion motor powered by variable frequency drives, as well as the harmonic filters, generators, high voltage switchboards, transformers, automation, azimuthing thruster with dynamic positioning capability, and associated thruster drive and motor. Converteam will be the shipbuilder and owner’s single point of contact for through-life service and support of the vessels anywhere in the world.
The performance of the contract and engineering design will take place in Pittsburgh, PA. The vessels will be built and commissioned at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, CA.
There are three scheduled class vessels expected to be delivered between May 2013 and December 2014.