Lauri J fighting fit with IRONMEN Series 4000

by Jill Power on 5 Nov 2009 Bhagwan Marine, one of Australia’s largest suppliers of rugged crew boats for the oil and gas industry, has nominated MTU as the engine of choice for their entire fleet.

Managing Director of Bhagwan Marine, Loui Kannikoski, said the new MTU IRONMEN Series was chosen because it met the demands of their business.

'We wanted reliability and longevity, which is what MTU is renowned for, and we’ve put the heaviest rating that we could on those engines,' he said.

'The decision to upgrade to the IRONMEN Series 4000 was made even easier based on the fuel and maintenance savings to be had. MTU Detroit Diesel Australia is focussed on engine technology and offer 24/7 backup assistance, no matter where you are.'

Bhagwan Marine’s new crew boat Lauri J, launched in March 2009, is the latest addition to Bhagwan Marine’s crew boat fleet of 25 contracted to the oil and gas industry.

Lauri J is the biggest vessel to be built in Geraldton in recent times and is powered by twin MTU12V4000M60R workboat engines – also known as IRONMEN engines – that are specifically designed to be extremely robust and reliable, easy to operate and provide the lowest fuel consumption.

As a prominent marine service provider, Bhagwan Marine has undertaken a vast array of projects in the oil and gas industry since they were established 11 years ago. Projects include dive support, field work, buoy maintenance, remote operated vehicles (submarines controlled to survey pipelines), drilling, grab sampling and water testing.

'These projects call for top-of-the-line electronics,' said Loui. 'This is why MTU is the perfect fit – they are at the forefront in electronics.'

The vessels have a lifespan of up to 30 years, and Loui upgrades his engines every 10 years to keep up with the latest improvements in engine technology. 'We are focused on client needs and requirements and are committed to offering the very best in purpose-built vessels, incorporating the latest technologies and safety features,' said Loui. 'The MTU Series 2000 and Series 4000 reliably meet our demands.'

Loui now runs a suite of MTU Series 2000 and Series 4000 in his fleet. Lauri J runs on the Series 4000 workboat engines, which cover a power spectrum of 700 kW to 2240 kW. The especially high torque makes powerful acceleration and reliable manoeuvring possible.

'She travelled from Geraldton to Exmouth at 14 knots and averaged 165 litres per hour. This has left us all amazed at how economical she is,' said Loui.

The Lauri J has exceeded Bhagwan Marine’s expectations so much that they are going to commission a sister ship. The engine selection for Lauri J’s sister will be the same, but she will be five metres longer.

MTU designs and builds engines specifically for the marine market, powering work boats, super yachts, pleasure boats, high speed catamarans, fast ferries, river cats, and customs and police vessels. MTU Detroit Diesel Australia offers comprehensive aftermarket support and servicing through 21 branches Australia-wide.