From Naval Sea Systems Command Office of
Corporate Communications
PUGET SOUND, Wash. (NNS) -- The Navy
provided U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Henry Blake (WLM 563) with a 50/50 blend of
F-76 and hydro-processed renewable diesel (HRD-76), June 20, to examine the
feasibility of using renewable diesel fuel in Coast Guard cutters.
The ship was identified as a good
candidate for an initial Coast Guard test because of the make and model of the
cutter engines and the availability of HRD-76 at the cutter's existing fuel
supply depot.
"The fuel provided was purchased by
Defense Logistics Agency in 2010 for research, development and qualification
testing, and had been staged in the area for our operational demonstrations
last year in Self Defense Test Ship and USS Ford (FFG 54)," said Richard
Leung, NAVSEA's Navy Fuels Engineering manager. "Besides supporting our
sister maritime service, this partnership allows us to collect additional data
on how the fuel operates in various engines as we continue qualification of
50/50 F-76/HRD-76.
The 175-foot Cutter Henry Blake has a
crew of 28 and supports the waterways of the Puget Sound and San Juan Island
area by maintaining navigational aids; performing search and rescue; enforcing
maritime law; and protecting marine environment. The cutter is expected to
operate for several months on the blend, and will perform routine operations
while monitoring efficacy and reliability of the 50/50 HRD-76 fuel.
"Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
pipeline will increasingly contain biofuels as these fuels become commercially
available and cost competitive with petroleum," said Fuel Section Chief
Sam Alvord, Coast Guard Office of Energy Management.
To learn more about Naval Sea Systems
Command's alternative fuel efforts, visit
http://www.navsea.navy.mil/OnWatch/home.html.
For more news from Naval Sea Systems
Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.
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