Caterpillar Marine, part of Illinois-based Caterpillar Corporation, has announced that it will supply complete propulsion packages – Caterpillar’s first comprehensive diesel electric propulsion systems – for two liftboats under construction at Jiangsu Dajing Heavy Industry in China.
Each vessel will require two identical diesel-electric systems comprising four Cat propulsion MTA-523 1500kW azimuth thrusters and eight Cat C32 generator sets.
The blade and hub materials are either stainless steel or bronze. The complete structure is designed to minimize the cost of through-life maintenance and to maximize the duration of in-service operation.
The two vessels are being designed by Shanghai Bestway Marine Technology Development. They are due for delivery to Chinese owner Mekers Offshore Company in summer 2016.