Cutting-edge technology – Caterpillar powers China-built IHC Merwede dredgers

For Worldwide Release, April 3, 2008

Release Number: M01PR08

Hamburg, Germany – Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific (CMAP) and WesTrac China Ltd (WTC), the Caterpillar^® dealer for North and Northeast China, have established a preferred supplier status in powering China-built IHC Merwede dredgers. Since cooperating on the dredger project “BeiYa 1” back in 2005, WesTrac China and IHC Merwede, the global leader in the design, fabrication and supply of equipment for the dredging industries, have collaborated on 23 newbuildings for the Chinese dredging market. These dredgers belong to three different models and utilise six different types of Caterpillar engines, with a total 81 units involved.

Buoyant seaborne trade has led to global record levels in dredging and port construction. IHC Merwede has extensive experience in this segment having built thousands of dredgers. Today the company serves half the world market. In 2004 IHC Merwede developed a concept for an advanced cutter suction dredger with a capacity of about 2,300 cubic metres per hour for customers in China, which eventually resulted in the delivery of BeiYa 1 from Liaonan shipyard in January 2006. Three Cat^® 3500 series marine engines provide ample power for high-performance dredging in the Bohai Sea on behalf of Quingdao North Asia Construction Engineering Co Ltd.

BeiYa 1 has established the new IHC 7025MP cutter suction dredger design, characterised by a 70 centimetre suction diameter, up to 25 metres of dredging depth and mono pontoon execution. Strong side winches enabling dredging in currents and large accommodations for the crew along with many cost-reducing features address typical Chinese requirements. In addition to the spud carrier, the cutter drive and all winches are diesel-hydraulic driven. One Cat 3516B diesel each drives the underwater pump and the booster pump, while a Cat 3512B diesel drives the hydraulic pump. Meanwhile, Chinese dredging contractors have ordered another 15 IHC 7025MP dredgers from Xinhe shipyard and Wenchong shipyard, with Cat engines being supplied by WesTrac China and Pon Power, the Caterpillar dealer for the Netherlands.

Following the success of the IHC 7025MP series, IHC also developed the more powerful 8527MP cutter suction dredger. This design is based on a suction diameter of 85 centimetres and can cope with dredging depths up to 27 metres. The IHC 8527MP utilises 2x Cat C280-12 engines for the booster pump and 3x Cat 3516B auxiliary engines to provide electric power. WesTrac has already signed repeat contracts to power six additional IHC 8527MP dredgers. Furthermore, WesTrac and Pon Power have also provided Cat power for a IHC-designed 1600 kW dredger, comprising 2x Cat 3508B and 1x Cat 3412C engines.

Brian Terrell, Territory Manager with CMAP in Shanghai in the P. R. China said: “Building upon the outstanding reliability and durability of Cat marine product, we have convinced Chinese dredging contractors that improved dredging performance requires superior engine performance. Both the high-speed Cat 3500B series and the new medium-speed Cat C280 series use electronic engine control to perfectly balance power, fuel economy and engine emissions. Consequently, these marine engines are a perfect match for IHC 7025/8527 series dredgers.”

Michael Zhang, Account Manager with WesTrac China in Beijing in the P. R. China added: “Combining Caterpillar’s world-class product with WesTrac’s commissioning and service capabilities impresses the customers. We have offered our clients tailor-made packages to
sustain engine performance and availability in the long term. As a result, Cat is today the preferred source of power for complex dredging projects in China and beyond.”

The following table gives an overview of Cat-powered IHC Merwede dredgers in China:

About Caterpillar Marine Power Systems

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems, with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, brings together all the sales and service activities for Cat and MaK branded marine products within Caterpillar Inc. This organization provides premier marine power solutions (high and medium speed with outputs from 11 kW to 16,000 kW) and customer service from a single source for the global ocean-going, commercial and pleasure craft markets. The Caterpillar Marine Power Systems sales and service network includes more than 2,100 dealer locations world-wide and is well positioned to support customers wherever they are.

More information is available at www.cat-marine.com or www.mak-global.com.

About Caterpillar

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2006 sales and revenues of $41.517 billion, Caterpillar is a technology leader and the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, clean diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.

More information is available at www.cat.com.

CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow” and the POWER EDGE trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

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