No Re-Engining for Fleet After Engines' Performance

The U.S. Navy's mine-hunter and mine-sweeper ships (MCM-1 and MHC 51 Class) will not be fitted with new engines, but will remain equipped with their current high technology, non- magnetic diesel engines manufactured by Italian engine company Isotta Fraschini. The Navy's decision was based on the company providing free system upgrades to several engines, better maintenance oversight, and the engines' superb performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The strong performance of the Isotta Fraschini engines and the enduring commitment of our company to the United States Navy make them a natural and reliable partner with the Navy fleet," said Upinder Kamal, Vice President of Isotta's Virginia subsidiary, FDGM. "In the future, we look forward to strengthening even further our relationship with the Navy, our most important customer and partner," he continued. Isotta-FDGM continues to help keep the Navy's mine warfare ships in superior shape with its full-service and parts support facility and factory trained mechanics in Ingleside, Texas, near the homeport of most of the Navy's mine warfare ships; in Sasebo, Japan, and Manama, Bahrain, for mine countermeasure ships in the Pacific and Arabian Gulf theaters. FDGM is also preparing to undertake improvement programs to assure full fleet readiness and high performance for the future.