Biggest Engine

Playing the Tier Game

By Larry Pearson With few exceptions, marine power is diesel power and emissions levels from diesel engines are coming under increased scrutiny and regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency. The levels of acceptable NOx, carbon monoxide and particulate matter for diesel engines in U.S. flagged vessels depends on the displacement of the engine. The EPA has settled on a liters-per-cylinder measurement to determine the schedule to meet the emission requirements. For example, marine diesel engines between 1.2 and 2.5 liters per cylinder have had to meet what is known as Tier Two requirements since 2004. These are engines typically used to power small gensets, bow thrusters, fire pumps and other auxiliary engine requirements. However, not all of the engines between 1.2 and 2.5 liters per cylinder have to meet Tier Two requirements. "Engines used for emergency generators and other standby power are exemption from these regulations," said Gary Aucoin, marine sales manager for Louisiana Machinery Inc., Belle Chasse, La., a Caterpillar distributor and major supplier of diesel engines for shipyards in Louisiana. Larger engines, between 2.5 and 5.0 liters per cylinder must today meet less stringent emissions standards known as Tier One. These engines are used for main power requirements of marine vessels.

New Diesel Engine Lines Available for Workboat Market

In recent months several diesel engine manufacturers have expanded their existing engine and generator ranges to include models suitable for workboat, large yacht and fishing vessel applications. This translates to more propulsion choices for boat builders and owners. Following is a look at four newly launched lines. MTU Friedrichshafen's 8000 Series Last September, MTU introduced the new 8000 series, moving the company into medium-speed engine market.

Great Lakes' Biggest Dual-Mode ITB Begins Service

One of the most labor- and fuel-efficient bulk material carriers on the Great Lakes entered service in June 2000. The self-unloading barge Great Lakes Trader is owned by Great Lakes Marine Leasing, Portland, Ore., and operated by VanEnkevort Tug and Barge, Bark River, Mich. The 740 x 78 ft. (226 x 24 m) Trader is the largest vessel capable of fitting through the St. Lawrence Seaway locks. Combined with the 10,200-bhp (7,600 bkW) tug Joyce L

Vessels: Big Cat Express: A Very Fast Sea Trial

By Larry Pearson It's 8:30 a.m. as the Big Cat Express saddles up to the dock at the Port of Morgan City, La. It is Sea Trial day for the big quad engine catamaran ferry. No question she is waterjet powered as the tops of the blue "buckets" of the four Hamilton Jet 651's break the surface of the water at the stern. Just above the buckets are the exhausts, large four stainless steel pipes that curve downward toward the water.

Ingram Repowers With Cummins

Ingram’s big white line-haul towboats with their distinctive red circle stack logo are a familiar sight on the lower Mississippi. On the Ohio River and in other feeder routes, Ingram also operates a number of smaller vessels to put the big tows together. In the recent total rebuild following the sinking of one such boat, the 56 x 24-ft. M/V Charles B Holman, Ingram chose Cummins engines. Mark Duley, General Manager-Motor Vessel Engineering

MerCruiser Big Block

Mercury MerCruiser has developed the next generation of big-block marine power – a new engine that produces more power and has better mid-range acceleration, lower emissions and superior fuel efficiency. Mercury MerCruiser engineers in Stillwater, Okla. – drawing on the expertise of the development teams at Mercury Racing – conceived, designed and engineered the new engine with support from Mercury engineers in Fond du Lac, Wis

Big Power for Korean Ferry

The Hankook Shipbuilding Company of Sacheon City Korea delivered in June 2007 a new car ferry to owner Jeong Gyu Sang. A pair of Cummins QSK60-M engines powers the 60.2 by 11 m boat. Each engine produces 2200 hp (1641 kw) continuous duty at 1800 rpm. Each engine drives through a Hitachi NICO MGN1226V gear with 4.19:1 reduction. The propellers have a diameter of 1950 mm (76.77 in.) and a 1450 mm (57 in.) pitch. Designed in-house by Hankook Shipbuilding

Hyundai Heavy Targets 20% Growth in 2012

Reuters reports that Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's biggest shipbuilder, expects order growth to more than halve to 20 percent this year as the world economy continutes to sputter. The conservative outlook adds to recent order cancellations in the global shipbuilding sector as economic turmoil and tighter bank lending have compounded growing earnings pain for ship owners. Hyundai, which also makes marine engines and construction equipment, repotedly targets winning $30

Technology: New Nozzles Improve Northern Tug

Northern Transportation Company Ltd. of Hay River, Canada, recently completed a major refit of one of their quad screw pusher-towing tugs, the Edgar Kotokak. Vancouver's Robert Allan Ltd. provided design and engineering services for the refit which improved the operational efficiency of the tug. The refit included new CAT 3512B engines and replaced the open propellers and rudders with integrated Nautican Nozzles and Triple Rudders

Pollution Control Vessels Launched

Three unique pollution control vessels have been launched in Dorset – with a fourth under construction. The vessels – three with Doosan engines and Westerbeke generators from engine and generator specialist WaterMota – are to be used for  oil spill recovery in South America and West Africa. Build by Manor Marine for Desmi Ro-Clean, the steel Pollution Catamarans (Pollcats) – 19m, 15.5m and 12m - are designed to absorb oil or pollution working at a speed of up to