Caterpillar Marine Power Systems will propel a series of 49,000 tdw tankers, built and operated in the US according to domestic Jones Act regulations. Propulsion will be diesel-electric utilising 3x MaK 12 M 32 C generating sets equipped with Siemens alternators. Each set will weigh about 120 tons and provide 5760 kWe at 720 rpm. The tankers have been ordered by AHL Shipping Company, San Antonio, Texas, following a charter agreement with Shell Trading (US) Company, Houston, Texas, to transport crude oil, chemicals and products within domestic US trade lanes from 2009/2010. Approximate vessel dimensions: length 188 metres, breadth 32 metres, draft 11 metres, cargo capacity 330,000 barrels. These tankers are the first of this size to be built in the US using modular construction, involving, among others, Atlantic Marine Alabama LLC, Mobile, Alabama, for hull construction and final assembly. Caterpillar will deliver nine MaK 12 M 32 C generating sets in total from its medium-speed engine facility in Rostock, Germany. Specifications were finalised during a recent customer visit to Caterpillar Motoren in Kiel, Germany.

Gary Aucoin, MaK Business Unit Manager at Louisiana Machinery Company LLC, the Caterpillar dealer for the US Gulf Coast, said: “We have placed this project as a key to our future success. The tanker business is new to Louisiana Machinery, and the experience gathered will open up future opportunities. We are committed to building a first-class MaK dealership, to complement the already successful Caterpillar dealership.”

Bruce Strupp, Territory Manager US Gulf Coast, and Caterpillar Marine Power Systems, emphasised: “This deal is one of the largest single orders ever for MaK engines in the US. We are more than happy that last year’s reassignment of MaK distribution in the Americas to six well-experienced Caterpillar dealers is bearing fruit. And I am very confident this move will result in other exciting business soon.”