Long Beach Cruises Employs EC Engines

Emission reduction in California, especially at the Long Beach and Los Angeles Ports, remains an ongoing project. However, a number of recent innovations have helped the cause: the employment of shore power for visiting ships, new regulations for container trucks and container handling equipment, and the release of a Cummins-powered hybrid Foss docking tug.

In keeping with the agenda, Dan Salas at Long Beach Cruises recently repowered his 2005 Kvichak-built whale watch catamaran named Christopher. Originally powered by a pair of Cummins KTA19-M engines, the boat received a set of new EPA Tier 2 complaint QSK19 engines. While the original engines were mechanically controlled, its replacements are electronically controlled with a modular common rail system.

Salas says that the original engines had about 20,000 hours each and “never missed a beat.” He is looking forward to the same service from the new engines, which are each delivering 700 HP at 2100 RPM to ZF 350A gears with 1.5:1 ratios. This allows the Christopher to make 22 knots. The 75-foot catamaran has capacity for over 100 guests and is operated by a crew of three.