MAN Diesel & Turbo is to supply two twin-screw complete propulsion packages, based on its latest MAN L48/60CR engines, for two new Chinese rescue vessels.

The two new rescue ships are to be built by the CSSC GuangZhou HuangPu Shipbuilding Company Limited, China. At 116.95m overall, a 16.20m moulded breadth  and speeds up to 22 knots, the newbuildings are to operate for the BeiHai Rescue Bureau and DongHai Rescue Bureau - of the Chinese Ministry of Transport.

MAN’s four stroke medium speed engines of the well-established 48/60CR (Tier II common rail) family offer 1,200kW per cylinder at 500 rpm and comprise the twin diesel-mechanical propulsion system. The two 7,200kW six cylinder 48/60CR engines power the RSHL1000 reduction gears from MAN Diesel & Turbo’s sister company and gear specialist Renk AG. The Renk gears also feature shaft alternators driven from 2,400kW primary PTO’s.

Completing the power train are twin four-bladed 4.0m diameter Alpha VBS1020 controllable pitch propellers of the new high-efficient Mk 5 design generation. Tail shafts of 20m and 3 x 8.5m intermediate shafting are specified. Two Alphatronic 2000 propulsion control and management system (for engine control room, main bridge and aft bridge control stations) are in charge of the propulsion power and speed control.

Goetz Kassing, general manager, MAN Diesel Shanghai Co. Ltd. explains: “The 48/60CR engines have been chosen for these rescue vessel newbuildings due to their wide operational flexibility and their combination of favourable fuel efficiency, low emissions levels and invisible smoke under part-load operation. With flexible control of injection pressure, timing and rate shaping, common rail fuel injection allows emissions and fuel consumption to be optimised over the engine’s entire load range. Combined with the new Mk 5 generation of Alpha CP propellers, ultimate ship propulsion power and speed flexibilities are offered for the many operating modes and mission tasks of the rescue vessels.”

Engine and main equipment set delivery for the first vessel is October 2011 and second ship is March 2012.