Oceantech backs Yanmar in commercial vessels

by Sonia Appla on 31 Oct 2014 Operating in Adelaide’s commercial marine precinct of Largs North, specialist naval architects Oceantech Design is a passionate advocate of the Yanmar range of commercial marine engines.

Their latest launching, Shootingstar, is a beefy offshore utility cat, powered by a pair of Yanmar 6CXB engines. She’s purpose designed, custom built and performs superbly with Yanmar marine diesel engines in the engine room.

The Oceantech Design association with Yanmar goes way back to beginning when Jon Kemp founded Oceantech in the late 1990’s, eyeing an opportunity in South Australia for naval design work.

Today, Oceantech Design is a multi-disciplined marine design firm that exports high quality precut designs worldwide as flatpack boats. Utilising the latest in computer aided design and drafting techniques, and industry standard software, the company has extensive experience in most construction materials and methods. Projects can be completed in compliance with all major National and International classifications as well as local marine survey authorities.

The range of vessels designed by Oceantech varies from a one off work punt, through to a 24m crab boat, the Silver Spectre. Oceantech designs can be constructed by suitably qualified ship yards, or their sister company, Calibre Boats located alongside Oceantech’s facility.

'We specify and have purchased a lot of Yanmar marine diesel engines for our boats,' said in house naval architect, Richard Jeffries. 'We are very happy with the reliability of the Yanmar’s. They are generally smaller for their power rating so are exceptionally well suited for cat hulls due to the compact installation envelope.'

'We buy engines right across the range, and then fit a variety of drive systems as appropriate, shaft drive, water jets and a few stern drives too. We match engines to hulls to performance for the optimum package.'

Shootingstar was designed by Oceantech to be a high speed transfer vessel. Built by Calibre Marine, this is a 14.0m all alloy cat with a beam of 5.0m and displacement of 21 tonnes. The vessel is designed to be operated by a crew of two, but has the capacity to carry 23 passengers.

Installed in each of the sponsons is a shaft drive Yanmar 6CXBM-GT commercial diesel engine. This Yanmar engine is a purpose built marine commercial engine, rated to develop 374 KW (509MHP) at 2700 rpm. Transmissions are ZF 305-1 with a ratio of 2.5:1. Maximum speed is 27 knots while a comfortable cruise speed is 23 knots with fuel consumption at 60 litres per engine per hour.

Yanmar's 6CXB, weighing in at 856kgs, is regarded as a lightweight engine but packaged within a compact installation envelope. The appeal is superb fuel efficiency and an impressive power-to-weight ratio that makes it possible to attain a higher top speed and a longer cruising range.

The Yanmar 6CXB is a mechanically governed, freshwater cooled, six-in-line marine diesel engine displacing 7.4 litres. It features a shrouded dry turbocharger, cylinder block inspection ports and is equipped with Yanmar’s own proprietary fuel injection equipment. Together with Yanmar’s patented in-house designed combustion chamber and fuel injection technology it offers the end user with an IMO Tier 2 compliant engine package that also has the added benefit of simplicity resulting in blistering performance, superior fuel efficiency, low noise and a true commercially rated engine.

The new generation 6CXB series comes from a proven pedigree with the earlier 6CX series already establishing an excellent reputation with many Australian and New Zealand boat owners.

Shootingstar is now operating successfully in Mackay, transferring crew to bulk carriers, coal ships and the like. It has dual helms and boarding platforms for transfers both fore and aft.

Across trawlers, general work boats and crew transfer vessels, cat and mono hulls alike, Oceantech Design is a passionate advocate for the Yanmar brand of marine diesel engines.

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