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Hamburg-headquartered Caterpillar Marine is currently carrying out another dual fuel engine retrofit conversion on board the 472-foot Fure West tanker, owned by Swedish firm Furetank Rederi A/B.

The Mak M 43 C diesel engine [pictured] will be retrofitted in hull to the 7-cylinder M 46 dual fuel platform, with each cylinder offering 900 kilowatts (kW) of rated power. Additionally, Caterpillar is also supplying the complete gas system for the tanker, including bunker stations, 2 LNG tanks measuring 4.15 meters by 24 meters and the vaporizer.

The project, backed by the European Union and developed with the Zero Vision Tool, will mark the second MaK engine dual-fuel retrofit. In 2014, Caterpillar completed the dual-fuel engine retrofit conversion on the Anthony Veder Coral Anthelia LNG carrier.

"We're pleased to continue to build upon our successful track record of dual-fuel conversions in the commercial marine industry and offer an increased scope of supply to our customers," commented Finn Vogler, Caterpillar Marine senior engineer.

"We have a market-ready technology available that our commercial marine customers can be completely confident in and after our success on board the Coral Anthelia, we have seen the demand for MaK dual fuel solutions increase substantially."

With a bore of 460 millimetres and stroke of 610 millimetres, the M 46 dual fuel engine was designed for electric drive propulsion systems as well as mechanical propulsion systems. Although designed for unlimited operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG), marine diesel oil (MDO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO), the M 46 DF has been produced to reach maximum efficiency in gas mode. The M 46 DF was strategically engineered to allow for the retrofitting of current M 43 C engines. Additionally, existing M 32 E engines can be retrofitted to the MaK M 34 DF dual fuel platform.

As a result of the synergies between the two platforms, Caterpillar says it can perform in hull retrofit conversions without having to move the engine block or perform extensive machining. For the Fure West conversion, Cat dealer Pon Power also played a key role in the project. "We're able to differentiate our solutions in the market by offering a collaborative partnership with our dealers to ensure the retrofit conversions are completed in an expedited manner and with a reduced number of parties involved as a result of our ability to provide the complete gas system for a vessel as well," Vogler noted.