MaK engines to power South African tugs

File photo of Voith Water Tractor tug

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—Caterpillar Marine will supply MaK 8 M 25 C propulsion engines for eight 70-ton bollard pull tugs on order for South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority.

The tugs will be 31 meters in length with a beam of 12.5 meters and will each be powered by two MaK 8 M 25 C engines with a total output of approximately 5,332 kW. The MaK engines will be delivered between 2015 and 2018.

As we reported on August 25, 2014, the tugs will be based on Voith Water Tractor technology and will be built at South African Shipyards in Durban, South Africa. Each will be propelled by two Voith Schneider Propellers VSP 32R5/265-2 with total of 5,300 kW and a bollard pull of 70 tons. The VWT will be utilized for harbor towage in the ports of Saldanha Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Richard’s Bay.

A ninth VWT ordered by Transnet National Ports Authority and being built by South African Shipyards will have a bollard pull of more than 100 tons. Propelled by two VSP 36R6EC/285-2, it will enable Transnet to provide a wider escort envelope to protect the ecologically sensitive coastal areas of the country’s west coast. The 37.1m x 13.5 m VWT will have a total of 7,800 kw installed. No word on whether Cat will be supplying engines for this tug.

 “Caterpillar is firmly committed to providing powerful, sustainable solutions to the global commercial tug operators and our Cat and MaK engines are ideal for operators looking to enhance the efficiency of their operations” says David Surroca, Caterpillar Marine Regional Sales Manager. “With outstanding engine reliability and efficiency, paired with a serviceable, maintenance-friendly design, the MaK engines will help the tug operators in reducing the operating cost and achieving highest uptime without sacrificing performance.”