Built by Swift Ships of Morgan City Louisiana in 1978, the Guardacostas Costa Rica patrol boat Punta Burica has recently been repowered. After three decades of work, the boat, like others in her class remains a valuable asset to the coast guard. The force owns several vessels of this class.
In the first of what could become an ongoing project, the Punta Burica has been repowered with a pair of new Cummins QSK19-M engines replacing a pair of MTUs. These IMO and EPA tier 2 compliant engines are equipped with modular common rail fuel systems. In this patrol boat application the 19-litre engines will each deliver 800 HP at 2100 RPM with a Medium Continuous Duty rating. The engines turn three-blade 30x34-inch propellers through ZF665 gears with 2:1 reduction.
The aluminum vessel is fitted out to carry a crew of eight to ten people. Tankage is provided for 1500 gallons of fuel and 500 gallons of water. The new engines will give the Punta Burica a patrol speed of 20 knots.