Wronowski Fleet Adds First Boat With Cummins KTA-3067M Engines

The New London, Conn., fleet of John H. Wronowski gained a new member recently with the addition of the heavy-duty tugboat Paul A. Wronowski. The vessel was built by Wronowski-owned Thames Shipyard in New London, and joins a fleet of five towboats and 12 ferryboats operated by the Wronowski family.

The Paul A. Wronowski is the first boat in the U.S. powered by Cummins KTA-3067M marine diesel engines, supplied by Cummins Diesel Engines of Connecticut, Inc. of Hartford. The engines provide a combined 2,500 bhp for the 300-ton tug. A Niigata (Nico) reduction gear with 2.51:1 reduction transmits power through 5- inch shafts to the Niigata ZP-2 propulsion units, which provide an additional 2.12:1 reduction to the propellers. Kort nozzles house 72-inch propellers that can be set at a variable drive, a feature of the Niigata Z-drive system.

The Z-drive system permits the whole propeller assembly to rotate.

When more power is required, the p r o p e l l e r pitch is steepened, lifting the stern and c r e a t i n g more forward thrust power. Mr. Wronowski estimates the system effectively raises the propulsion drive power by 15 percent.

Mr. Wronowski plans to use the boat to service the U.S. Naval Submarine Base located in Groton, Conn. He designed the boat in conjunction with naval architects at John Gilbert & Associates of Boston, with the ex- pectation of handling Tridentclass nuclear submarines and long tows.

The tug has a beam of 30 feet and a draft of 10 feet 6 inches.

The half-inch plate hull is reinforced at c r i t i c a l p o i n t s with three-quarter-inch plate, enabling the tug to handle icebreaking chores in harbor areas. Cabin quarters can house eight crewmen, although the owner estimates that the boat will normally operate with three to six crew members.

Mr. Wronowski says he chose Cummins KTA-3067M engines for two reasons: his concern over the rising cost of fuel, and past experience with Cummins. He con- eluded the KTA-3067s could provide fuel savings of more than 20 percent. The engine is rated 1,250 horsepower at 1,800 rpm with continuous-duty fuel consumption of 63 gallons per hour.

The 16-cylinder engine weighs 10,700 pounds without gear, and stands 120 inches long, 53 inches wide and 76 inches high.

On-site service will be provided by Cummins Diesel of Connecticut, Hartford. Additionally, two of Mr. Wronowski's mechanics have been instructed in Cummins diesel maintenance to provide immediate response to any maintenance needs.

Other equipment onboard reflects the variety of oceangoing and harbor assignments the owner expects to handle. Hydraulically operated A l l e n - J o h n s on winches command a 50-ton maximum pull rating. Seven fuel tanks hold more than 70,000 gallons of fuel, while potable and ballast water tanks have storage capacity for more than 12,000 gallons of fresh water.

Electrical power is supplied by two 60-kw Detroit Diesel generators.

Two Quincy 725 air compressors and six Burke transfer pumps run off the generators.

Navigational needs are met by a North Star Loran C unit and Commar autopilot. A Kelvin & Hughes 1700 radar unit monitors short-range traffic while Furuno supplies long-range radar. The boat is also equipped with two Raytheon radios.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 10, May 1981

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.