Page 39: of Marine News Magazine (March 2014)

38 40

PROPULSION aged at the Allemand shop.

Allemand’s LeBlanc told Marine-

News, “The customer decision to repower the second vessel with Volvo

Penta was based on the experience with the D16 performance on the fi rst vessel, in terms of better low-end torque, quicker throttle response, re- liability/service and lower cost of op- eration.” He added, “The Volvo Penta

D16 engine has defi nitely proven it- self on the river. Every fl eet operator is watching the vessels. We have had several operators contact us wanting to learn more about the product.”

Looking Ahead

Volvo Penta Americas President

Huibers says that Volvo Penta is mak- ing inroads in the U.S. workboat mar- ket. He pointed, as another example, to Zimco Marine, a commercial fi sh- ing fl eet based in Brownsville, Texas.

Zimco turned to Volvo Penta to re- power two of its shrimp boats with

D13 MH engines. Since July, the repowered vessels have put in more than 1,000 hours and have already recorded both fi nancial and perfor- mance benefi ts.

The company calculates its fuel consumption reduction at more than 30 percent over its original engine package – a savings of nearly $40,000 per year, per engine.

The shrimp boat captains say they can feel a difference at the helm, noting that the D13 works harder and more effi ciently at lower engine speeds. The Volvo engine was also found to have better acceleration and more torque at lower RPM — in ad- dition to being quieter, lighter and smaller. With all of these advantages in mind, the company has already placed an order through the local

Volvo Penta dealer, Palmer Power in

Houston, for replacement engines for another two boats.

It hasn’t been that long since Volvo

Penta actively began to target the do- mestic workboat markets with their proven engine designs. Long success- ful overseas in similar commercial markets and best known here in the high end recreational markets, it also likely won’t be long until the Volvo

Penta brand makes its mark on the

U.S. Gulf Coast, and beyond. When it does, the D16 inline six-cylinder with Volvo Penta’s Electronic Vessel

Control (EVC) technology will no doubt be a big part of that equation. www.marinelink.com MN 39

MN MAR14 Layout 32-49.indd 39 2/21/2014 3:27:17 PM