Methanol-ready Cat 3500E marine engines win DNV AiP

 The DNV approval and class notation validate Caterpillar Marine’s methanol-ready dual-fuel engine solution. The Cat 3500E engines are available in 12-cylinder (up to 1,901 kW) and 16-cylinder (up to 2,525 kW) configurations. Caterpillar Marine will provide update kits for the 3500E in addition to offering new methanol-burning engines to satisfy the timing and requirements of any project.

The company says that the Cat 3500E methanol-ready engines will have a significant impact across all maritime segments, especially tugs and other vessels that require high-power propulsion for heavy loads. This innovative solution will enable operators to use methanol as a fuel to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from well to wake.[1]

“Caterpillar Marine is pleased that the DNV review was successful, as it marks an important product development milestone for us,”saod Caterpillar Marine vice president and general manager Brad Johnson. “Methanol will play an important role in the maritime industry’s energy transition efforts, and we look forward to providing vessel operators with high-quality methanol solutions.”

In parallel with the methanol engine development, Caterpillar is also exploring other alcohol-based fuels. The company has already started testing these fuels in the same engine and says that it will provide more information as the development progresses. Caterpillar Marine first announced its investment in methanol engine technology in March 2022 as part of its combustion technologies innovations. In a follow-up release in September 2022, it announced methanol-readiness for the 3500E-series marine engines, which would be capable of being modified to run as dual-fuel engines in the future.

In May 2024, the company announced plans to deploy the first set of field demonstrator methanol dual-fuel 3500E marine engines with Damen Shipyards Group in 2026.