FDGM Recieves Navy Contract

On June 3, 2004, FDGM was awarded a U.S. Navy contract to upgrade the performance of diesel engines on the USS Warrior and USS Gladiator. The contract value is more than $4 million and includes refurbishment and upgrades of all engines to a configuration that demonstrated improved reliability and performance in a previous one-year test.

Work has already begun on the USS Warrior MCM-10 and should be completed in August. Work on the USS Gladiator MCM-11 will begin in late June and will be completed in September. All work is to be performed in the Ingleside, TX, area by FDGM's Gulf Coast Operation, located in Aransas Pass, TX.

In March, the Navy announced that the MCM-1 and MHC-51 class mine counter-measure ships would not be fitted with new engines, but would remain equipped with their current high technology, non-magnetic diesel engines manufactured by Italian engine maker Isotta Fraschini, the sister company of FDGM. The Navy’s decision was based on FDGM’s providing better maintenance oversight and the engines’ superb performance during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We are very pleased to continue to partner with the U.S. Navy to provide the best possible performance of our engines on USS Warrior and USS Gladiator. The strong performance of the Isotta Fraschini engines and the enduring commitment of our company to the United States Navy will strengthen our partnership with the Navy fleet,” said Upinder Kamal, Vice President of Operations for FDGM.

Isotta-FDGM continues to help keep the Navy's mine warfare ships in superior shape with its full-service facilities and factory trained mechanics in Ingleside, TX, near the homeport of most of the Navy's mine warfare ships; and in Sasebo, Japan, and in Manama, Bahrain, for mine counter-measure ships in the Pacific and Arabian Gulf theaters, respectively. FDGM is also preparing to undertake an improvement program for all Avenger class MCMs. Isotta Fraschini/FDGM is a subsidiary of FINCANTIERI, one of the most diversified shipbuilding companies in the Mediterranean, and one of the largest in Europe. The company designs, builds, and markets merchant, cruise, and naval vessels, offshore vessels, and is also active in the large conversion and ship repair sectors. In addition to supplying the U.S. Navy, Isotta Fraschini engines are utilized by the Italian Navy and many other friendly countries, as well as for commercial use.