Strong demand for Cat and MaK power in offshore applications

Whether it is medium-speed engines like the MaK M 25 C and M 32 C or Cat C3600/C280 series or high-speed engines like the Cat 3500 series, Caterpillar Marine Power Systems (CMPS) has earned a reputation for providing demanding markets with reliable, durable and efficient propulsion packages. Related services ranging from tailored vessel financing to global customer support especially benefit companies operating in harsh environments. All of the above resulted in CMPS’ strong foothold in the offshore vessel business and a wealth of engine orders in the backlog:
Americas

• Edison Chouest Offshore, Galliano, Louisiana, will launch a new series of Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels being built at their subsidiary North American Shipbuilding, Larose, Louisiana. Main propulsion will be provided by 4x MaK 6 M 25 C engines. Edison Chouest Offshore has also ordered an even stronger AHTS vessel powered by 2x MaK 16 M 32 C engines.
• Otto Candies, Des Allemends, Louisiana, expand their fleet by six OSVs and one AHTS vessel. Both designs will feature a diesel-electric plant, powered by 3x Cat 3512C generator sets for the OSVs and 4x Cat 3516C generator sets for the AHTS.
• Master Boat Builders, Bayou LaBatre, Alabama, is working on seven OSVs for Abdon Callais Offshore in Golden Meadow, Louisiana. Four vessels will feature 2x Cat 3512C as their main propulsion engines while the remainder will get 2x Cat 3508C. In addition, each vessel will utilise various Cat auxiliary engines.

• German Mützelfeldtwerft – on behalf of MAN Ferrostaal AG, Essen – is working on a series of Anchor Handling Tugs (AHTs) ordered by Harms Bergung Transport & Heavylift GmbH in Hamburg, Germany. All six vessels will be powered by MaK main engines and Cat generating sets and are intended for global offshore operations. Newbuildings “Uranus” and “Orcus”, for example, will receive 4x MaK 9 M 32 C main engines, rated 4,500 kW at 600 rpm each, for 18,000 kW total power and a minimum expected bollard pull of 280 tons.
• STX Europe is building a series of eight Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) for German E.R. Offshore, Hamburg, at their Aukra, Norway, shipyard. The PSVs are of UT 755 design and are powered by 2x MaK 6 M 25 C engines, totalling 3,960 kW. The first four vessels have already been delivered in June and October respectively.
• Dutch Damen Shipyards Group continues series production of their axe bow design, developed to achieve high speed in waves while improving sea-keeping characteristics, safety and crew comfort. Of the smaller Fast Crew Supplier (FSC) designs FCS 3307 and FCS 3507, powered by 3x Cat C32 Wide Operating Speed Range (WOSR) marine engines, until now 24 vessels have been sold. Of the larger FSC 5009 design, powered by 4x Cat 3512B WOSR engines, twelve vessels have been sold.
• Fincantieri in Italy works on eight powerful AHTS vessels based on MOSS 424 design, each powered by 4x MaK 6 M 32 C engines totalling 12,000 kW. The first two vessels with 180 tons bollard pull have already been delivered to Italian owner Rimorchiatori Riuniti. Now work continues on six vessels for Hartmann Offshore, Germany. They will reach 190 tons bollard pull and are scheduled for delivery from 2009 through 2010.
• Factoría Naval de Marín, Vigo, Spain, is to deliver two Emergency Response & Rescue Vessel (ERRV) to Danish operator Esvagt in 2009. The vessels are based on the recognised Ulstein X-Bow design and powered by 2x MaK 8 M 32 C main engines and 2x MaK 6 M 20 C generator sets.

• Drydocks World South East Asia, Singapore, is building another four AHTS vessels of KCM 63-metre design with 80 tons bollard pull for one of India’s major offshore services companies. These vessels are powered by 2x MaK 8 M 25 C engines. The shipyard will also deliver two KCM 67-metre design AHTS vessels with 100 tons bollard pull for Norwegian accounts, propelled by 2x 9 M 25 C engines. In addition, Drydocks World is building two AHTS vessels with 150 tons bollard pull for Malaysian operators using a CWA design with 2x 9 M 32 C main engines. Two PSVs based on UT 755 design with 2x 6 M 25 C engines are on order for Greek accounts. Finally, the shipyard is building two advanced multipurpose OSVs of UT 788 CD design with 2x MaK 16 M 32 C main engines for a large Singaporean offshore operator.
• Jaya Shipbuilding & Engineering (JSE), Singapore, is working on eight AHTS vessels of 100 tons bollard pull based on different designs. All vessels are propelled by 2x MaK 9 M 25 C main engines.
• Keppel Singmarine Shipyard, Singapore, is building a variety of OSVs for North American, Middle East and Russian accounts. These vessels range from offshore support tugs to large multipurpose vessels, actively using in-house designs. The shipyard will deliver four AHTS vessels for Gulfmark Offshore powered by 2x MaK 8 M 25 C plus 2x 6 M 25 C main engines. A further two ship sets are being built on speculation using 4x 8 M 25 C engines. A couple of offshore support tugs powered by 2x 9 M 25 C engines will be delivered to customers Lukeoil and Seaways.
• PT. Batamec shipyard, Batam, Indonesia, co-operates with Vik-Sandvik Group to build four multi-functional VS 491 Clean Design AHTS vessels for Norwegian accounts. Two MaK 16 M 32 C marine engines, each of 8,000 kW, will jointly propel these super tugs with more than 250 tons bollard pull. The yard is also building a multipurpose Subsea Support & Construction Operation vessel for Norwegian accounts using a MT 6022 XL design. Propulsion will be provided by 4x MaK 9 M 25 C and 2x 6 M 25 C engines in a diesel-electric configuration.
• PT. Marco Polo shipyard, Batam, Indonesia, is constructing six AHTS vessels powered by 2x MaK M 25 C main engines, of which four are of 60-metre design and two are based on a CWA design.
• Muhibbah Marine Engineering, Malaysia, continues deliveries of their established AHTS vessel designs for various customers, powered by 2x Cat 3606 main propulsion, 3x Cat 3406 auxiliary engines, 1x Cat 3412 bow thruster engine and 1x Cat C4.4 emergency engine as a standard. The shipyard also builds more powerful AHTS vessels equipped with 2x Cat C280-12 marine engines. Most of the Muhibbah newbuildings are intended to operate in South East Asian oil fields.
• Grade One Marine Shipyard (GOMS), Malaysia, is building two 76-metre AHTS vessels of 150 tons bollard pull using a CWA design. These vessels are intended for a major Malaysian offshore operator and are powered by 2x MaK 9 M 32 C main engines, each rated 4,500 kW at 600 rpm.
• Bharati Shipyard in India is working on two PSVs of UT 755 design, propelled by 2x MaK 6 M 25 C engines, and four PSVs of Havyard design, propelled by 2x 8 M 25 C engines, all six vessels intended for Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). The shipyard also builds five AHTS vessels with 120 tons bollard pull for Bourbon Offshore. Main propulsion will be provided by 2x MaK 8 M 32 C engines. Another three AHTS vessels of VS 4612 design with 2x 9 M 32 C engines providing 150 tons bollard pull are on order for Norwegian accounts.
• ABG Shipyard, the largest private shipyard in India, will build a series of six AHTS vessels for Essar Shipping of India. The vessels will be powered by Cat 3516 HD marine engines and are intended for a petroleum refinery project in western India. ABG also works on six PSVs based on a diesel-electric design with 4x Cat C32 marine engines for a customer in the USA for delivery in 2010.
• Colombo Dockyard, Sri Lanka, builds four AHTS vessels of MOSS 501 design for one of India’s major offshore services companies. Each vessel is powered by 2x MaK 8 M 25 engines. Another four AHTS vessels are on order for a different customer.