Page 48: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2014)

48 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • SEPTEMBER 2014

MARINE PROPULSION

Ongoing Developments on Existing Models

Alongside the development of new so- lutions such as dual fuel and gas engines, existing products are being continually improved and enhanced. Engine upgrade is one sector where the company is forg- ing ahead with a range of new products.

Starke explained: ”One of these is the

MaK M32E – based on the successful

M32C engine design, built for the off- shore market.”

The fi rst MaK 5MW engine in the 320mm bore segment, the M32E, shares the same footprint as its predecessor.

As well as extending the M32C’s pow- er range to 5MW, the upgrade runs at 720/750 rpm, and features a more com- pact (and lighter) engine design. A part- load optimization kit is also available for diesel-electric/CPP and generator set ap- plication. “Slow steaming optimization is another new option we are introduc- ing,” Starke said. “It allows customers more fl exibility in the operating mode while still being as fuel-effi cient as we can be in that situation.”

The 720/750 rpm concept will reduce generator costs, and there is a low smoke option that makes it particularly useful for harbor tugs and other vessels work- ing in smoke-restricted zones.

Another upgrade is the M25C/E selec- tive catalytic reduction (SCR) system.

According to Starke is the M25 SCR for a pure diesel or HFO (heavy fuel oil) en- gine, and is an after-treatment system to bring the NOx levels down. “Depending on which application the customer wants to use to operate his ves- sel, we would provide the technology which fi ts his specifi c case.”

According to Starke, Caterpillar is watching the gas engine market very carefully and has already put its foot into this door. ”You certainly have noticed that we shipped the fi rst Cat 3500 Series marine gas engines from its factory in

Lafayette in the U.S., with fi ve of the Cat

G3516 marine engines being selected for the world’s fi rst LNG-powered barge, in the Port of Hamburg. This engine is a spark-ignited gas engine designed es- pecially to operate in commercial vessel applications. The solution is compliant with the strict Marine Classifi cation So- cieties requirements, SOLAS, and is cer- “Caterpillar Motoren is a German-

American success story,”

Oswald Schöffel, CEO of Caterpillar

Motoren GmbH Kiel “For every challenge there is a suitable solution.”

Dr. Frank Starke, Global Product

Manager, Medium Speed Engines

Production time from start to testing could be reduced from three weeks to fi ve days.

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