Caterpillar to Power 16 Korean Patrol Boats

Caterpillar Marine has announced Cat power solutions have been selected to power 16 new build Patrol Boats for the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

Each Patrol Boat will be equipped with two Cat C32 main propulsion diesel engines and two Cat C9 ship service diesel generators. The first Patrol Boats will be constructed at the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) shipyard in Korea. 

Cat dealer Hae In led the Caterpillar efforts on the project and will continue to manage the delivery and subsequent service of the Cat solutions. "The Korean Navy Patrol Boat project is a significant milestone for both Hae In Corporation and Caterpillar Marine as it reiterates that Cat marine products have passed the high standards of the Korean government," noted YS Kwak, Hae In power systems general manager. "Our products are well suited for the demanding navy patrol segment."

The Cat C32 is a V-12, 4-stroke-diesel engine that is IMO II emissions compliant. The turbocharged C32 engine is electronically governed and features the ADEM A4 electronic control unit. The engine platform has accumulated hundreds of thousands of hours operating on vessels around the globe, establishing a reputation as a proven performer with industry-leading reliability.

The Hae In scope of supply for the Patrol Boat project includes the reduction gear and Cat Local Operating Panel (LOP) which integrates control, alarm and monitoring functions of the C32 and reduction gear. “Caterpillar Defense & Federal Products (D&FP) identified the requirement to provide an LOP that integrates both engine and reduction gear functionality and to include this as part of their customized product portfolio. Thanks to Hae In, the Patrol Boat program has provided the opportunity to enable the design of the LOP, which can now be used for other governmental and commercial projects,” commented Neil Vaughan, Caterpillar Defense & Federal Products sales consultant. “Developing the C32 patrol vessel spec engine has been challenging. Working directly with Hae In sales and engineering, we are now in a positon to complete the detailed design and deliver this integrated product to the ROKN.”