Caterpillar Marine

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Chinese liftboats to have Cat diesel electric propulsion

Identical diesel-electric systems, comprising four Cat Propulsion MTA-523 1500 kW azimuth thrusters driven by electric motors and soft starters as well as eight Cat C32 generator sets, will be delivered for each vessel.

“As a comprehensive power and propulsion solutions provider for the marine industry, we’re pleased to continue to integrate our full portfolio of offerings in our customers’ operations,” said Wang Xiaohua, Caterpillar Propulsion sales manager.  “China remains an area of strategic importance for us and this particular order is significant because it is the first time in China that we have supplied a full diesel-electric propulsion solution, including engines, propulsion systems and main switchboards.”

The two vessels, designed by Shanghai Bestway Marine Technology Development Company Ltd, are being built for Chinese owner Mekers Offshore Company Ltd and are due for delivery in summer 2016.

Over the course of 2016, Caterpillar will also supply all of the other components in the electric power system.

In addition to the main switchboard, Caterpillar will provide power management systems, central monitoring and alarm systems, transformers, uninterruptible power supplies and variable frequency drives.

MTA azimuth thrusters incorporate a number of key features to support effective vessel operation. They are hydro-dynamically optimized for good in-water performance. Available in both L-drive and Z-drive configurations, MTA azimuth thrusters can be supplied with controllable or fixed pitch propellers. Blade and hub materials are either bronze or stainless steel and the complete structure is designed to minimize the cost of through-life maintenance and to maximize the duration of in-service operation.

Built for reliability in harsh conditions, C32 generator sets have high efficiency and a minimized environmental footprint integrated into the design. The units can accept 100% load rate in one step and their integrated control system protects the power supply and offers scope for remote monitoring. Cat C32 generator sets are available in a power range from 830 ekW to 940 ekW.

Cat Marine inks milestone LOI with Turkish tug builder

Caterpillar calls the deal “a significant milestone” that “demonstrates Sanmar’s view that Cat power solutions are not only best-in-class today, but are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.”

The LOI covers the supply of Cat propulsion engines and generator sets to Sanmar for the shipbuilder’s newbuilding program over the coming three years.

At least 84 propulsion engines and 86 generator sets are expected to be supplied between now and 2018. These will include 26 Cat C32, 22 Cat 3512C and 36 Cat 3516C propulsion engines plus 86 Cat C4.4 generator sets.

The engines will primarily power tugboats with bollard pulls of between 60 and 85 tonnes.

Caterpillar has a long relationship with Sanmar.

“The profile of the tugboat sector is changing,” said Cem Seven, Sanmar’s Managing Director. “Consolidation means there are fewer but larger tugboat operators which are increasingly focused on bigger, more powerful vessels to meet the very best standards on sustainability. Demand is shifting to more innovative tugboats which are capable of meeting the designed bollard pull more efficiently. This is what the Cat engines help us to provide to our customers.”

Mark Harrison, Caterpillar Marine Regional Sales Manager, said: “We are delighted to have this seal of approval from one of the industry’s leaders. Our strategy is to focus of designing products to help our customers be successful. For tugs, that is high reliability at increased engine power with quicker acceleration while at the same time providing lower fuel consumption, lower emissions and increased sustainability. Cat marine engines have proven over many years to deliver this to our customers in the tug boat segment.”

Levent Altun, Group Manager at Borusan, Caterpillar’s dealer in Turkey, added: “Even with the latest design features including advanced control and monitoring systems, Cat engines are renowned for ease of operation and straight forward maintenance. Together with the company’s world-wide network providing constant customer support, Cat marine engines and after-sales services are a perfect blend of state-of-the-art technology and sound human relations.”

Sanmar now provides vessels for many of the world’s leading tug operators and recently built and commissioned a second shipyard in Turkey to handle the growing demand.

This year, Sanmar achieved delivery of 25 tugboats to owners from ten different countries, setting a new company record.

Harley newbuild will be first with Cat marine Tier 4 engines

 

When Harley Marine decided to build the new line haul boat, the Earl W. Redd, for towing up and down the U.S. Pacific Coast, the company wanted a proven power platform that would meet the new emissions requirements.

Over the years, Harley Marine has successfully operated line haul tugs powered by Cat 3500 Tier 1 and Tier 2 propulsion engines. Cat dealer Peterson Power suggested two 3516E engines —a flexible power solution that addressed both Harley Marine’s need for power and the upcoming Tier 4 regulations.

To meet the Tier 4 Final emissions standards coming in 2016, each of the two continuous duty 3516E engines—individually rated with a 10% horsepower increase of 2,682 hp at 1,600 rpm—is paired with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment system, using DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) a urea-based solution, to reduce NOx emissions in the exhaust.

“Harley Marine should save over $1 million across a 15-year lifecycle on total fluid consumption (diesel plus DEF) costs for this newbuild compared to an equivalent Tier 2 powered vessel. They are able to deliver an increased level of performance due to the higher power rating with increased efficiency,” says Ryan Darnell of Caterpillar’s Large Power Systems division. “That’s a direct result of engine fuel efficiency improvements that our SCR technology allows us to make by reducing NOx downstream of the engine combustion process.”

Harley Marine has a long-standing relationship with Caterpillar Marine, including parts and service support from dealers across the United States.  In addition, Cat Financial has provided construction and ownership financing for multiple Harley Marine vessels— including the Earl W. Redd.

“Harley Marine appreciates that they can get the whole package from one source,” says Brent Nelson, a Caterpillar Marine territory sales manager who works closely with Harley Marine. “Caterpillar Marine is able to bring together multiple parties to make sure the design and installation is exactly what they need.”

For this particular vessel, that includes not just Harley Marine, but also Diversified Marine, Peterson Power, the naval architect and Cat engineers back at the factory. Caterpillar says that everything is now on track for the Cat engines to be delivered to the shipyard in April 2016, with vessel construction complete in October of that year.

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Cat offers C280 engines that meet EPA Tier 4 limits

 

The EPA Tier 4 standards applied to all new U.S. flagged vessels starting in January 2014. IMO III standards will apply to all new vessels entering IMO NOx Emissions Control Areas (NECA) starting in January 2016.

The C280 engines are available in eight, 12 and 16-cylinder models spanning a power range from 2300 ˗ 5060 kW as main engines – conventional and diesel electric – and also as auxiliary generator sets. Caterpillar says that the latest models offer significant benefits over earlier units. As well as reduced emissions, they consume less fuel and have lower through-life owning and operating costs.

According to Nathan Kelly, Caterpillar Marine production definition engineer, the choice of SCR over other NOx reducing technologies, was made based on the Caterpillar commitment to customers to offer solutions that provide the highest uptime and minimize overall total lifecycle cost.

“SCR was a clear choice for us,” explains Mr. Kelly. “We have more than 160,000 Tier 4 Final and Interim engines in land-based operations using various NOx-reduction technologies. In marine applications, we specifically chose the best technology to fit the needs of our industry. We view SCR as the preferred option for the commercial marine industry. “

“The C280 is already renowned for its high uptime, reliability and durability,” he continued, “but for these Tier 4 engines our priority was to achieve the lowest lifecycle owning and operating cost. We have succeeded in this by improving engine fuel efficiency. Unlike previous emissions tiers, our Tier 4 engines can run at optimal fuel efficiency because the SCR system is in place to reduce the higher NOx output.”

He says that any concerns about the cost of the urea based Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) used in SCR technology are more than offset by the improved fuel efficiency delivered.

“Unlike some other NOx reduction technologies, our engines operate without interruption even in the event of SCR failure or running out of DEF,” adds Mr. Kelly. “There is no effect to engine operation.”

Cat power for diesel-electric Edison Chouest MPSVs

MARCH 6, 2015—Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) has selected Cat’s EPA Tier 4 Final-compliant C280-16 generator sets for two new ice class, diesel-electric-powered Multi-Purpose Supply Vessels (MPSVs) under construction at ECO’s La Ship

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MaK to power Maersk COSCO newbuilds

DECEMBER 2, 2014 — Caterpillar Marine reports that MaK diesel electric propulsion (DEP) solutions have been selected to power the four Maersk Supply Services (MSS) subsea support vessel newbuilds ordered at China’s