Converteam to Supply Propulsion Systems for U.S. Navy's Mobile Landing Platform Program

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Power conversion specialist Converteam has been selected as the supplier of Integrated Power Systems (IPS) to the U.S. Navy with the award of an additional multi-million dollar contract to design and supply the complete electric power, propulsion and vessel automation system for the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. The MLP program adds to Converteam's market leadership experience with the U.S. Navy's IPS fleet, which includes DDG 1000, T-AKE, LHD 8 and LHA 6.

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The MLP vessels are a new class and type of auxiliary support ship. They're intended to serve as a transfer station or floating pier at sea, improving the U.S. military's ability to deliver equipment and cargo from ship-to-shore when friendly bases are denied, or simply don't exist. That's very useful in disaster situations, and equally useful for supporting U.S. Marines once they're ashore.

Under contract, General Dynamics NASSCO has commissioned Converteam to provide a highly capable and flexible IPS including the tandem propulsion motor powered by variable frequency drives, as well as the harmonic filters, generators, high voltage switchboards, transformers, automation, azimuthing thruster with dynamic positioning capability, and associated thruster drive and motor.  Thanks to its comprehensive offering from design to commissioning and training, Converteam will be the shipbuilder and owner's single point of contact for through-life service and support of the vessels anywhere in the world.

"We are very pleased to be selected for the MLP program," said Michael Archibald, president of Converteam Inc. "This most recent contract validates our long-standing partnership with General Dynamics NASSCO, and their continued confidence in Converteam's expertise in systems integration and our commitment to deliver high-quality technologies."

The performance of the contract and engineering design will be performed in Pittsburgh, PA. The vessels will be built and commissioned at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, CA.

There are three scheduled class vessels expected to be delivered between May 2013 and December 2014.

Converteam in the Marine Market

As a power conversion specialist, Converteam is a leader in the electrification of the marine industry supplying the most advanced technologies in power generation and distribution, electric propulsion, vessel automation, dynamic positioning, power management and control systems to merchant marine vessels such as cruise-liners, LNG carriers or research vessels and to Naval ships. Converteam supplied the first LNG carrier ever equipped with electric propulsion. For the last 30 years Converteam has partnered the U.S., UK and French Navies for militarized, low noise signature, integrated full electric propulsion systems installed on the most advanced generations of warships such as destroyers, frigates or aircraft carriers and on logistic vessels.

About Converteam

The Converteam Group is a world leader in power conversion engineering. Building on over a century of experience, it is firmly placed at the leading edge of technology and innovation with a global reputation for excellence in the conversion of electrical energy. Converteam develops and provides solutions built around three core components: electrical machines, variable speed drives, automation and process control. It serves specialized sectors as well as its six core markets in Renewables, Power Generation, Oil & Gas and Offshore, Marine, Industry and Services. With over 5,300 staff members in 17 countries, Converteam Group provides power conversion solutions worldwide in over 80 countries. In 2010 sales totaled euro 1,093M with a year-end Order Backlog of euro 1,183M.

Converteam's North American operation (Converteam Inc.) is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, employing over 500 people, with offices in Minneapolis (MN), Miami (FL), Houston (TX), Houma (LA), and Burlington and Vancouver, Canada. For more information, visit www.converteam.com.

SOURCE Converteam Inc.