Italian Coast Guard Receives Island Class Cutter Sized Self-Righting Cutter –Bairdmaritime

Photo: MarineTraffic.com/Dragec

Baird Maritime reports delivery of an interesting, perhaps unique, patrol vessel. At just over 110 feet long, it combines the size and speed of the Island class with the self righting capability of a 47 foot MLB.

Natale De Grazia is powered by two MTU 16V2000 M96 main diesel engines that each produce 1,790 kW at 2,450 rpm. The engines drive a pair of Kongsberg Kamewa S71-4 steerable waterjets via ZF 5000 gearboxes to deliver a maximum speed in excess of 30 knots, or a range of more than 1,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 28 knots. The waterjets have also proven capable of bringing the 33-metre vessel to a complete “crash stop” within just one and a half boat lengths even from a speed of 30 knots.

A 1000 mile range may not sound like much for a vessel of this size, but that is at 28 knots. At a lower speed, range would be much greater. At 16 knots that should translate into a range of about 4,500 nautical miles.

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