The US Navy has awarded a contract to Siemens Industry to install diesel electric propulsion solution on board two auxiliary general oceanographic research (AGOR) vessels at Dakota Creek Industries.
Guido Perla & Associates will design the frigates and will be delivered to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, respectively, to continue with ongoing research efforts in the Atlantic, western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
Siemens will provide the main generators, main propulsion and thruster motors, switchboards, power management system; in addition to designing, engineering, project managing and commissioning for the diesel electric and automation system.
The company will also provide an automation system for alarm, monitoring and control functions, as well as other condition-based monitoring systems for improved maintenance and reliability.
The AGOR 27 and 28 advanced oceanographic research vessels will be installed with Siemens-built Blue multi-drive low-voltage system to enhance reliability, lower maintenance costs, increase efficiency and increase operational ease for the vessel and crew.
The design will enable the vessels to reduce fuel consumption, while lowering emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.
The 238ft-long AGOR 27 and 28 are single-hull ships and incorporate high-efficiency diesel engines, emissions controls for stack gasses, new information technology tools both for monitoring shipboard systems and for communicating with the world.
The AGOR vessel features hull coatings to reduce maintenance requirements and can operate with a crew of 20 with accommodations for 24 scientists.
Each vessel will undergo 30 to 36 months of construction phase and the two ships are scheduled for delivery in late 2014 and early 2015 to the navy.
