GEAR | MAN engines to power French naval logistic vessels

A temporary consortium formed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group has been awarded a contract for four logistic support Ships (LSS). As part of the deal, MAN Energy Solutions will supply the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard with a total of 16 engines in connection with the building of the four refuelling tankers for the French Navy.

Each vessel will feature a diesel-electric propulsion system with two shaft lines and propellers. MAN’s scope of supply covers two MAN 12V32/44CR engines, each 7,200 kW, and two MAN 8L32/44CR engines, each 4,800 kW, resiliently mounted on baseframes. Delivery for the four newbuildings is scheduled between 2022 and 2029.

The order is part of a Franco-Italian LSS Programme led by OCCAR, the International Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation, on behalf of DGA, the French Armament General Directorate, and its Italian counterpart, NAVARM.

The tankers each have a fuel capacity of 13,000 m³, with a mission to provide logistical support to French and allied navies’ combat vessels. They will carry fuel for vessels, jet fuel for aircraft, weapons and ammunition, spare parts, as well as food. The tankers have been designed to support the aviation group attached to the aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle.