Caterpillar to Supply LNG Propulsion to Four Carnival Newbuilds

Caterpillar will propulsion for the first four LNG-powered vessels being built for Carnival by Meyer Werft.

Caterpillar Marine (Caterpillar) will supply dual fuel MaK 16 M 46 DF engines to the first four liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessels being built for Carnival Corporation & plc (Carnival) at Meyer Werft GmbH (Meyer Werft), the Motorship reports.

As Ship & Bunker reported in September, Carnival signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku Oy (Meyer Turku) for the deliver three LNG-powered next-generation cruise ships.

The new contract with Caterpillar will also see the company provide the full LNG supply and handling system for the vessels.

"From a single source, we provide the complete system for ship operators who wish to capitalise on the benefits of LNG as a marine fuel," said Ulf Hannemann, cruise and ferry segment manager, Caterpillar.

"We have successfully completed a number of diesel to dual-fuel conversions in the commercial shipping sector and our pipeline of newbuild installations continues to grow. However, it is in the cruise sector that we see the greatest opportunities."

Lars Ljoen, managing director of Carnival Maritime, earlier this week said the company will seek to use similar main engines and thrusters, as well as other below-the-deck equipment for all ships under the new ship platform, a move said to be intended standardise the company's building and maintenance procedures.

Meanwhile, Caterpillar is reported to be working to improve gas-only operation through research and development at its Rostock facility, which is said to have demonstrated the efficient operation of LNG main engines using loads of less than 20 percent for the first time.

"This development is a key consideration for cruise operators who wish to use LNG, rather than risk smoke from the funnel or soot on deck whilst starting main engines and manoeuvring in port waters," said Frank Starke, managing director of Caterpillar Motoren.

With the addition of the latest three ships, the company now has a total of seven new LNG-powered cruise ships on order across four of its 10 cruise brands, with the first of these set to be delivered to AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises.