Page 32: of Marine News Magazine (November 2026)

31 33

Propulsion

Caterpillar Marine

Caterpillar’s Pinpoint system records torque data generated during assembly in the cloud. “All these different systems talk to each other. It all goes up into one database and stores it for that particular engine. It’s all date coded, everything’s trackable, traceable. So we’ll know exactly when that operator hit that trigger or torqued that bolt down.” –Kevin Lu, Strategy Consultant,

Caterpillar Marine Reman & Services

Typically, Sarrat said, a ? eld follow might run for 5,000 much as 50%, then that’s more time on the water, more or 10,000 hours. But because the C32Bs had entered ser- time pushing cargo for the customer, less time taking a vice well before commercial production began, Caterpillar vessel out of service for maintenance for those engines, and saw an opportunity. that just translates into more money.” “If the idea is that the C32B is a new platform that’s more durable and it’s going to give customers longer life Repower: The Inland Opportunity to overhaul, let’s prove it on the water,” Sarrat said. “Let’s That equation becomes even more relevant when viewed prove it in the exact application where the customers are against the age and operating pro? le of the U.S. inland ? eet.

demanding that durability.” Unlike oceangoing ships operating continuously in salt

Caterpillar ultimately pushed the engines well beyond water, inland towboats can have exceptionally long struc- 50% of the targeted overhaul interval. tural lives. Sarrat said 40- and 50-year-old vessels remain

The numbers are notable. Caterpillar’s previous guid- common among major operators, with freshwater op- ance for engines in this class would put major overhaul eration contributing to hull longevity. A vessel may go considerations at roughly 20,000 hours, depending through three or four power plants during its lifetime.

on operating conditions. The ACBL C32Bs surpassed That makes repowering central to Caterpillar’s inland 33,000 hours. business.

“We haven’t done anything with the bottom end in The C32B was consequently designed to retain the C32’s 33,000 hours,” Sarrat said. “For us, that’s fantastic.” basic footprint and connection points. For an operator with

The trial also allowed Caterpillar to focus on previous a serviceable hull, replacing engines can make far more eco-

C32 concerns involving intake valve recession and cylinder nomic sense than replacing the vessel. Tier 3-compliant head life in certain applications. Revised thermal passages, 1,000-hp C32Bs can be used under EPA replacement-label upgraded intake valve materials and redesigned exhaust provisions in appropriate applications, while Tier 4 con? g- valve geometry were monitored during the extended test. urations with an airless SCR system provide another route

For Sarrat, the commercial calculation is straightforward. for operators pursuing lower emissions.

“If we can extend a customer’s overhaul interval by as “The biggest driver still is a repower opportunity,” Sar- 32 | MN November 2026