Signet Maritime Corporation recently announced they are the first to install the Cat® C175 ACERT 16-cylinder main propulsion diesel engines rated at 3417 BHP each on their two support/escort tugs being built in Gulfport, MS.
These engines represent the next generation in technology for addressing the needs of emissions and hazardous location applications and meet offshore emissions requirements, including EPA Tier 3, EU Stage IIIA, and IMO Marine Tier II. The Robert Allan Ltd. designed RAstar 3100 class tugs are engineered to provide superior ship handling, escort, and sea-keeping performance. Slated for an October 2011 delivery, these highly specialized terminal support/escort tugs will provide marine services for Angola LNG Supply Services (ALSS) vessels into the Port of Pascagoula.
J. Barry Snyder, president of Signet Maritime , stated, “ A vital evolution for this decade is the initiation of Tier 3 environmental protection with internal combustion engines and we are the first to install the new Cat C175-16 EPA Tier 3 engines on ASD tugs.”
Signet is a strong proponent of using green technology and protecting the environment; using these new engines will result in lower emissions, improved performance, and reduced fuel consumption.
The new engines accomplish this with the support of the Cat ACERT technology, which is a combination of advanced electronics/monitoring systems, increased engine efficiencies through computer aided design, and modernized common rail fuel injection systems.
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Source: Signet Maritime, April 15, 2011;