Caterpillar Marine Power Systems: "Vessels equipped with our engines may be serviced worldwide"
The “heart” of any vessel is the engine. Its quality influences efficiency and duration of vessel operation without downtime caused by repair of important components. Availability of up-to-date components is a factor extremely significant for shipbuilding and navigation in Russia and it is important to choose well-known time-tested brands. Valentin Romanov, Caterpillar manager on development of ship engines sales in Russia and the CIS tells PortNews IAA about the activities of Caterpillar Marine Power Systems.
- What is the core business of Caterpillar Marine Power Systems?
- Caterpillar founded in 1925 is today the world’s largest manufacturer of different equipment including marine engines. Its subdivision Caterpillar Marine Power Systems brings together all sales and service activities for Cat and MaK branded marine products within Caterpillar Inc. We supply main propulsion engines, marine diesel generators as well as engines for auxiliary needs (drives for pumps, winches etc.)
Our global dealer network provides technical solutions for onboard energy supply and worldwide customer support. The Caterpillar Marine Power Systems sales and service network includes more than 2,100 dealer locations world-wide and is well positioned to support customers wherever they are.
In late 1996, the company acquired German manufacturer of heavy diesel engines MaK Motoren and in 1998 – leading European company Perkins Engines. Today Caterpillar, Perkins and МаК enable the company to be competitive owing to application of best technological solutions of each of the three members, integration of manpower, expansion of product range and improvement of its quality.
- What are new interesting products to appear at the market in the nearest future?
- We have recently renewed the range of marine engines and replaced series 3000, 3300, 3400 with С-type engines. It is a new engine with electronic control which meet ecological requirements of IMO, EPA Tier1, Tier2 and Euro3 conforming to regulations applied at Europe’s inland waterways.
In prospect of 10-20 years we plan to conform to EPA Tier3 and Tier4.
Besides, С-type engines with electronic control make it possible to cut fuel consumption and to improve reliability.
The latest model С175 will be supplied in the nearest future and to replace popular engines of 3500. С175 is characterized by improved balance of power with weight and size characteristics and by simplified electric system. This engine is fitted with Common Rail fuel system enabling to cut fuel consumption and to improve exhaust emissions.
As for the Russian market, we continue certification of equipment with Russian Maritime and River Register.
- How long has the company been working in Russia? What are the main functions of Russian subdivision?
- This year Caterpillar representative office in Moscow celebrates an anniversary. We have been working in Russia for 35 years already. The office was opened in USSR time, in 1973. Starting from the second half of 90-ies we carried out reorganization according to our company’s world practice and invited official dealers. As of today, 13 dealers work in Russia and the CIS. As for maritime business, such companies as Cepellin Russland LLC (Central Russia), Cepellin Ukraine (Ukraine), Amur Machinery (Far East, Siberia) and Mantrac Vostok (Volga region) have been working for over 10 years already.
The above dealers do not only sell engines but they also provide comprehensive technical solutions for the complete propulsion and energy systems according to the customer’s requirements. Having signed one contract a customer may receive the complete set including main propulsion engine and auxiliary devices as reduction gear, shafting line, control and protection systems, local and remote control panels, gas exhaust systems etc. Besides, aftersale service and extended service is provided according to specific character of maritime business.
- Who are your customers in Russia?
- In Russia we work with such ship owners as Gazprom, LUKOIL, Rosneft, Portoflot in St. Petersburg, Commercial Seaport of Novorossiysk, as well as owners of yachts, mega-yachts and fishing companies.
For several years our engines are being installed on the ships built by Moscow Shipbuilding and Shipreapair plant, Pella, Euroyachting, Far Eastern yard Zvezda, Amur Shipyard as well as Ukrainean shipyards. Moreover, our diesel generators have been recently widely used by different ship owners for re-equipment of their existing vessels.
- What is the range of your products supplied to Russia?
-In Russia, like in other countries of the world, we provide the widest range of our goods from small diesel generators for pleasure yachts (11 KWt) to МаК engines operating on heavy fuel (16,000 KWt, for large ocean-going vessels).
- What are the features and competitive advantages of your company’s goods?
- Unlike other companies, we provide the widest power range of engines from 11 KWt to 16,000 KWt. Designing and construction are characterized by integrated technical solutions as regards propulsion and energy components of the vessel under construction, supply of certified equipment required by the register and environment regulations. We also provide financial support of the project in the form of credit through our Caterpillar Financial subdivision. When putting the vessel into operation we provide commissioning support through the nearest dealer. As for the vessel operation our support is available in any part of the world due to our global dealer network.
Apart from the above, Caterpillar engines have extended lifetime and inter-repair periods, competitive fuel consumption as well as conformance to the most severe ecological requirements.
I would also like to note that today only Caterpillar has an educational center in Russia with real engines for training of specialists. For several years, our customers from ship owning companies train their mechanics in this center established on the base of Maritime Academy named after Makarov.
- What are the company’s plans for development in Russia and the CIS?
- In the nearest future we are to complete establishment of maritime dealers of the second level in Novorossiysk and St. Petersburg and start establishment of service-dealers in Murmansk and Archangelsk. We also plan to expand our service capacity, to improve quality of service support and to decrease time needed for supply of spare parts to customers.
- What are the industry’s future perspectives?
- Considering the growth of economy, production of oil and manufacture of goods, there is a need to raise the volume of maritime transportation and port services. Thus there is a clear necessity to renew the fleet of tug-boats, as well as service and cargo vessels. Besides, the number of motor yachts grows faster in Russia as compared with the rest of the world. It makes us hope for the development of this sector and stimulates us to be close to our customers to ensure prompt reaction to their requirements.
- What is the core business of Caterpillar Marine Power Systems?
- Caterpillar founded in 1925 is today the world’s largest manufacturer of different equipment including marine engines. Its subdivision Caterpillar Marine Power Systems brings together all sales and service activities for Cat and MaK branded marine products within Caterpillar Inc. We supply main propulsion engines, marine diesel generators as well as engines for auxiliary needs (drives for pumps, winches etc.)
Our global dealer network provides technical solutions for onboard energy supply and worldwide customer support. The Caterpillar Marine Power Systems sales and service network includes more than 2,100 dealer locations world-wide and is well positioned to support customers wherever they are.
In late 1996, the company acquired German manufacturer of heavy diesel engines MaK Motoren and in 1998 – leading European company Perkins Engines. Today Caterpillar, Perkins and МаК enable the company to be competitive owing to application of best technological solutions of each of the three members, integration of manpower, expansion of product range and improvement of its quality.
- What are new interesting products to appear at the market in the nearest future?
- We have recently renewed the range of marine engines and replaced series 3000, 3300, 3400 with С-type engines. It is a new engine with electronic control which meet ecological requirements of IMO, EPA Tier1, Tier2 and Euro3 conforming to regulations applied at Europe’s inland waterways.
In prospect of 10-20 years we plan to conform to EPA Tier3 and Tier4.
Besides, С-type engines with electronic control make it possible to cut fuel consumption and to improve reliability.
The latest model С175 will be supplied in the nearest future and to replace popular engines of 3500. С175 is characterized by improved balance of power with weight and size characteristics and by simplified electric system. This engine is fitted with Common Rail fuel system enabling to cut fuel consumption and to improve exhaust emissions.
As for the Russian market, we continue certification of equipment with Russian Maritime and River Register.
- How long has the company been working in Russia? What are the main functions of Russian subdivision?
- This year Caterpillar representative office in Moscow celebrates an anniversary. We have been working in Russia for 35 years already. The office was opened in USSR time, in 1973. Starting from the second half of 90-ies we carried out reorganization according to our company’s world practice and invited official dealers. As of today, 13 dealers work in Russia and the CIS. As for maritime business, such companies as Cepellin Russland LLC (Central Russia), Cepellin Ukraine (Ukraine), Amur Machinery (Far East, Siberia) and Mantrac Vostok (Volga region) have been working for over 10 years already.
The above dealers do not only sell engines but they also provide comprehensive technical solutions for the complete propulsion and energy systems according to the customer’s requirements. Having signed one contract a customer may receive the complete set including main propulsion engine and auxiliary devices as reduction gear, shafting line, control and protection systems, local and remote control panels, gas exhaust systems etc. Besides, aftersale service and extended service is provided according to specific character of maritime business.
- Who are your customers in Russia?
- In Russia we work with such ship owners as Gazprom, LUKOIL, Rosneft, Portoflot in St. Petersburg, Commercial Seaport of Novorossiysk, as well as owners of yachts, mega-yachts and fishing companies.
For several years our engines are being installed on the ships built by Moscow Shipbuilding and Shipreapair plant, Pella, Euroyachting, Far Eastern yard Zvezda, Amur Shipyard as well as Ukrainean shipyards. Moreover, our diesel generators have been recently widely used by different ship owners for re-equipment of their existing vessels.
- What is the range of your products supplied to Russia?
-In Russia, like in other countries of the world, we provide the widest range of our goods from small diesel generators for pleasure yachts (11 KWt) to МаК engines operating on heavy fuel (16,000 KWt, for large ocean-going vessels).
- What are the features and competitive advantages of your company’s goods?
- Unlike other companies, we provide the widest power range of engines from 11 KWt to 16,000 KWt. Designing and construction are characterized by integrated technical solutions as regards propulsion and energy components of the vessel under construction, supply of certified equipment required by the register and environment regulations. We also provide financial support of the project in the form of credit through our Caterpillar Financial subdivision. When putting the vessel into operation we provide commissioning support through the nearest dealer. As for the vessel operation our support is available in any part of the world due to our global dealer network.
Apart from the above, Caterpillar engines have extended lifetime and inter-repair periods, competitive fuel consumption as well as conformance to the most severe ecological requirements.
I would also like to note that today only Caterpillar has an educational center in Russia with real engines for training of specialists. For several years, our customers from ship owning companies train their mechanics in this center established on the base of Maritime Academy named after Makarov.
- What are the company’s plans for development in Russia and the CIS?
- In the nearest future we are to complete establishment of maritime dealers of the second level in Novorossiysk and St. Petersburg and start establishment of service-dealers in Murmansk and Archangelsk. We also plan to expand our service capacity, to improve quality of service support and to decrease time needed for supply of spare parts to customers.
- What are the industry’s future perspectives?
- Considering the growth of economy, production of oil and manufacture of goods, there is a need to raise the volume of maritime transportation and port services. Thus there is a clear necessity to renew the fleet of tug-boats, as well as service and cargo vessels. Besides, the number of motor yachts grows faster in Russia as compared with the rest of the world. It makes us hope for the development of this sector and stimulates us to be close to our customers to ensure prompt reaction to their requirements.