Electrical And Mechanical Propulsion Applications 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.

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems announce the development of the MaK M 34 DF, a new marine dual fuel engine platform for the commercial marine industry. The M 34 DF dual fuel engine boasts a power rating of 500 kW per cylinder at 720 and 750 rpm in diesel and gas modes, and will share the same footprint as the highly successful M 32 C engine series. The M 34 DF will be capable of running on natural gas as an alternative to marine diesel oil or large and complex scrubber installations for Emission Control Areas (ECA) operation as of 2015. First engine deliveries are foreseen for October 2014.