Andrea Bochicchio News

Caterpillar, Wärtsilä and Volvo Penta introduce new, efficient and environmentally compliant engines. A crowded market becomes even more competitive. Forget all the worries about how industry would be able to comply with the coming changes to the regulatory scheme that affects marine propulsion and related emissions. Demand has met supply and it has done so robustly and in impressive form. And, if the past month is any indication, the innovation in the market is more than keeping up. This month, we provide just a sampling of the impressive developments in marine propulsion. Clearly, workboat operators now have a cornucopia of options for the repower and newbuild market, alike.

Wärtsila obtained certification of emission standard compliance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines. It will enable Wärtsilä to strongly enter the American market with marine engine technology that offers operators and owners the option of using either diesel or gas as fuel. The certification was obtained on January 17, 2013. "The Wärtsilä 34DF is the first dual-fuel engine fulfilling the EPA requirements, and this is a very important statutory recognition of Wärtsilä dual-fuel technology…