Maritime Partners Repowers Mv. John Austin

Maritime Partners recently repowered the twin-screw mv. John Austin with two Mitsubishi S12R-Y3 engines rated at 1,260 hp. at 1,600 rpm from Laborde Products.

The repowering replaced Cummins QSK38 engines with 1,300 hp. at 1,800 hp.

“At 28,000 hours, it came down to a full overhaul or a repower,” said Austin Sperry, co-founder and president of Maritime Partners. “We chose to repower with the Mitsubishi S12R. It meant less downtime, more value over the long haul and confidence that Laborde’s team would be there with the right support.”

The emphasis on fit and follow-through was central to the project.

“The John Austin needed a repower that made sense not just on paper, but in the water,” said Bradley Matte, sales representative for Laborde Products. “The S12R-Y3 has hundreds of installs in commercial service, and operators know it as a workhorse. Our role was to spec it properly, commission it cleanly and make sure Maritime Partners had a reliable platform from day one.”

The repower leveraged the vessel’s existing systems while making minor modifications. The S12R-Y3 engines fit within the original rail centers and paired with the Reintjes WAF 665 gearboxes via adaptor plates. Key modifications included new grid coolers, an adjusted exhaust system, remote air cannisters, new pedestals and rerouted cooling lines. Other systems, including electronic controls, Racor filtration, fuel supply and air start all remained compatible.

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Featured photo caption: Maritime Partners recently repowered the twin-screw mv. John Austin with Mitsubishi engines from Laborde Products. (Photo courtesy of Laborde Products)