30th April 2008. Rated the highest powered 1000 rpm engine available, MAN Diesel’s recently introduced type 28/33D diesel has become an engine of choice in patrol boat applications.

Representing the first order for the 16 cylinder version of the 28/33D, MAN Diesel’s works in Augsburg, Germany is scheduled to produce six 7.2 MW rated 16V 28/33D engines for three 25 knot offshore patrol vessels being built by VT Shipbuilding of Portsmouth, UK for the Trinidad and Tobago Coastguard Service. Each engine drives a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) via a single input/output, horizontal offset reduction gear.

As well as a 30 mm gun, the 90.5 metre OPV’s carry fast interception rigid inflatable craft and a 20 metre helicopter landing deck aft. The aft deck can also serve to carry a combination of containers, stores, vehicles, scientific research equipment or other cargo. The OPV specification includes a 16 ton crane for loading and unloading.

In its most recent patrol vessel order MAN Diesel is to produce the first 12 cylinder versions of the 28/33D. A total of eight of the 5.4 MW rated 12V 28/33D have been ordered for four 108 metre craft to be built by Schelde Naval Shipbuilding of Vlissingen, Netherlands for The Royal Netherlands Navy. The engines drive controllable pitch propellers via reduction gears and give the vessels a 22 knot top speed. A special PTI “power-take-in” feature on the gears consists of an electric motor mounted on a stub shaft. With the main engines disconnected or shut down, the motor is driven from the patrol auxiliary gen-sets to provide very low speed propulsion.

The four patrol vessels are scheduled for delivery between November 2010 and November 2012 and will operate both off the Netherlands and for fixed duration missions around the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. When a Caribbean mission is completed, the patrol vessel is relived by one of its sister ships and returns to the Netherlands for servicing. The vessels are described as a robust platform with limited weaponry, specifically designed for coastal patrol missions and maritime defence. For interceptions the patrol vessels carry both a helicopter and high speed rigid inflatable interceptor craft.

ILS
MAN Diesel reports that since starting production of the 28/33D in Augsburg it has substantially extended its capabilities in integrated logistic support (ILS) for naval and governmental applications of this kind. The process went hand in hand with the early 2006 founding and strategic expansion of the new MAN Diesel PrimeServ after-sales organization. Since its inception PrimeServ has optimised spare parts supply logistics, increased its global presence and is setting up a worldwide network of “PrimeServ Academies” for the training of customer personnel in the operation, maintenance, overhaul and repair of MAN Diesel engines, turbochargers, gears, propellers and complete propulsion systems. MAN Diesel’s type 28/33D high power density diesel is becoming and engine of choice for patrol vessels. It is offered in 12, 16 and 20 cylinders covering a power range from 5,400 to 9,000 kW.

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