American engine manufacturing corporation Cummins has delivered its 800th QSB6.7 engine, rated at 250 hp, to Australian marine engineering company Birdon early this year, for the bridge erection boats (BEBs) it is building for the US Army.
The BEBs are being constructed at its Denver HQ in the US, and are based on a design Birdon developed in the early 2000s for the Australian Army.
In recent years, Birdon has secured contracts with the US Army and US Coast Guard worth over US$2 billion, whilst operating out of its Port Macquarie facility.
Birdon is also currently taking delivery of 234 Cummins QSC8.3 engines, rated at 530 hp, for the US Coast Guard Motor Lifeboats (MLBs), which it is upgrading under a service life extension program.
Their most recent US Coast Guard contract, announced in October and valued at US$1.187 billion, is to design and build 27 Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCC), with each vessel featuring five Cummins engines – two QSK19 main engines, two X15 auxiliary engines and one emergency QSB6.7.
Cummins is a long-term partner of Birdon, and will be debuting its 1000 hp Advanced Combat Engine (ACE) at the Land Forces Exposition in Melbourne from September 11-13.