MaK Middle East, established in Dubai in 2017 as the factory direct parts and service arm of parent Caterpillar Motoren, has announced the next level of MaK branded eco-friendly and fuel efficient maritime propulsion system with its industry-leading LNG engines.

Relying on Caterpillar’s many years of experience with gas as a fuel for land-based power, MaK dual-fuel marine engines have successfully penetrated the maritime market, driving the industry’s adoption of gas technology, said a statement.

Alan Naisby, managing director of MaK Middle East and MaK Asia, said: “After much deliberation by shipping companies, LNG is now regarded as a bridge technology.”

“Caterpillar’s known history of research and development with dual-fuel technology has allowed us to transfer much of our know-how to marine engines. Together with the IMO’s mandate for reduction in global emission limit on the seas, these have been the key drivers in the success of our LNG-fueled MaK engines,” he said.

Caterpillar Motoren’s addition of dual-fuel engines to its portfolio of MaK marine diesel engines was in the works even prior to MaK Middle East’s inception as a regional service provider, it said.

With Caterpillar Motoren initially designing, manufacturing and supplying one of its patented VM 46 DF (dual fuel) engines to both the AIDAprima and AIDAperla cruise ships, this laid the groundwork to fully power the next generation of cruise ships including AIDAnova with 4 x VM 46 DF (dual fuel) engines, making that vessel the first in the world able to operate solely on LNG, drawing fuel from onboard tanks, it added.

Currently there are nine cruise ships on order to be delivered with MaK dual-fuel engines.

Naisby continued: “In the cruise ship application, the 4 x VM 46 DF (dual fuel) engines provide 53,150 HP using computer-controlled fuel injection technology to enhance fuel economy. They also drastically reduce emissions given their ability to emit virtually no soot or sulfur oxides and far less NOx and CO2 than those that burn diesel.”

“In the increasingly emissions-sensitive cruiseship market segment these engine characteristics have led to some 37 per cent of new cruise ships on order being designed with VM 46 DF (dual fuel) engines,” he said.

“The appeal of our LNG-powered engines includes their ability to start and run on gas versus diesel, meaning ships can leave the dock or harbour in cleaner-burning mode. Additionally, the ability to operate on gas for extended periods in low load when only a fraction of the full power of the engine is required. These are both key features for cruise lines operating in heavily populated or environmentally sensitive areas,” he added.