Fast Cat

Vancouver Considers Bringing Back Fast Cat Ferries

The CEO of the Washington Marine Group is downplaying environmental concerns as he considers the idea of bringing back the Fast Cat ferries to work a Vancouver to Nanaimo run, CKNW News Talk reports. The vessels would be run at a slower speed than previously, and officials say that improvements have been made since they were first introduced and that the Fast Cats wouldn't do any environmental damage that isn't already being done by current service. Washington Marine could have an answer within six weeks on whether to go ahead with this plan. Source: CKNW News Talk

Diesel Electric Propulsion – CAT Starts Brazil Genset Production

Diesel electric propulsion generators for offshore users now in full production at Caterpillar's new Brazil facilty Caterpillar says their 3500C Diesel Electric Propulsion (DEP) generator sets have entered full production at the Piracicaba, Sao Paulo manufacturing facility, delivering on a commitment to offer superior Cat power solutions products to the burgeoning Brazilian offshore market. Within the past year, the company has achieved significant milestones in Brazil

Austal to Build Diesel-Powered Catamaran

Australian shipbuilder Austal Ships will design and build the world’s most powerful diesel-powered catamaran for Canadian American Transportation Systems (CATS). The contract represents a major milestone for the Austal Group in the North American market. With a speed of 42 knots, the 86 metre vehicle-passenger ferry will be the first of its type on the Great Lakes. It will operate on Lake Ontario between the cities of Rochester in New York State, USA and Toronto in Canada

Incat Crowther Designs Another Fast Cat Ferry

Incat Crowther announced a contract to design a third 121.3-ft Catamaran Passenger Ferry for Coastal Fast Ferries in Tanzania, Africa. To be built by Richardson Devine Marine (RDM), Kilimanjaro III will build on the experienced gained in the operation of sisterships Kilimanjaro I and Kilimanjaro II, previously designed by Incat Crowther for Coastal Fast Ferries. Kilimanjaro I and II are significantly larger vessels than any fast ferries that have been deployed on the Zanzibar – Dar

Cat Provides Propulsion Systems for Scandlines Ferries

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems was recently selected to provide combined propulsion systems for two Scandlines ferry newbuilds. The two ferries will each be equipped with 5x MaK 9 M 32 C engines with Cat Common Rail. Each M 32 C engine produces 4,500 kW at 600 rpm for 22,500 kW of total power per vessel. The engines are optimized for smokeless operation and reduced nitrogen emission levels, which fulfill IMO II requirements.

Caterpillar’s Marine Center of Excellence

Highly automated, fully variable assembly process allows Cat to provide uniform service to a myriad of marine customers. But, MCOE is only one part of Cat’s new business strategy. In August of 2007, the first Cat marine engine left Caterpillar’s new Marine Center of Excellence (MCOE) in Greenville, South Carolina. In the ensuing years, countless engines have gone through the same process. And, according to Caterpillar’s Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Brad Fischer

West Coast Ferry Industry at All-Time High

In terms of new deliveries, the West Coast ferry industry will probably not see another period to match the past 18 months for some time. All three of the large government-operated ferry systems in the Pacific Northwest - Washington State, BC Ferries and the Alaska Marine Highway System - received new tonnage, as did a number of smaller operators along the coast. Still under construction are two high-speed vehicle-carrying catamarans for BC Ferries and a single passenger-only high-speed cat

Cat Marine Engines Re-Power US Army Dredge

The US Army Corps of Engineers operates two hopper dredges on the west coast of the U.S. to keep shipping channels open. The largest and most modern of them is the Essayons, built by Bath Iron works in Bath, Maine in 1982. Its aging power plant has been replaced by eight state-of-the-art Cat marine engines totaling more than 15,000 kW. The 350 ft long Essayons is based in Portland, Oregon. Its annual schedule includes work in harbours between Alaska and California, as well as Hawaii

ABA Delivers to Sunferries

Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) has delivered its latest high speed ferry, a 98.4 ft catamaran designed by Sydney-based One2three Naval Architects. Sunferries of Townsville, Queensland, accepted delivery of the Fantome Cat from the Brisbane builder on 26 March. Fantome Cat is a near sistership to Palm Cat, and takes the total number of ABA-built vessels in its fleet to two and the number of One2three designed vessels in the Sunferries fleet to four.

Three Damen Twin Axe Fast Crew Suppliers En Route to MCS

Three more Damen Twin Axe Fast Crew Suppliers are on their way to Maritime Craft Services (Clyde) Ltd and are expected to arrive in Europe in early May. Based in Largs, Ayrshire, MCS ordered three Twin Axe FCS 2610s, just months after taking delivery of its first two catamarans. All of the vessels are deployed in supporting offshore wind farms and in maintenance activities. With more than 30 years experience, the Scottish family firm operates a 19-strong fleet of tugs and workboats