Westinghouse To Provide Diesel Engines For USCG Icebreaker

Westinghouse Electric Corp.'s Marine Division has begun work on a $14.5 million contract from Avondale Industries to provide diesel engines for the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) newest polar icebreaker, the USCG Michael A.

Healy.

Under the purchase order from Avondale, Westinghouse will provide four 12-cylinder, 10,600-hp ZA40S medium-speed engines. The company is working closely with Fincantieri's diesel engine division in Trieste, Italy, which will physically build the engines. The engines will be delivered in January 1996. The current contract includes four sub-bases that will serve as mounts for the medium-speed diesels. Generators for the icebreaker's electric drive propulsion system are being designed and manufactured by the Westinghouse Motor Company in Round Rock, Texas, under a separate contract. The diesel-generator units will power two 15,000- hp electric motors.

These motors will drive two fixedpitch propellers. In addition to providing power for the electric-drive system, the Westinghouse mediumspeed diesels will also supply energy for the ship's electrical service. The Healy will be able to clear channels in icepacks up to 4.5 feet (1.4 m) thick continuously at speeds up to three knots, or up to eight feet (2.4 m) thick by backing and ramming the ice.

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