Finning has provided the Uks first commercial-use Cat C32B engines
Cat power solutions provider Finning UK and Ireland and provided Mainprize Offshore with six Cat C32B engines for its fleet or multi-role Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs), marking the first commercial application of the Cat C32B engine in the UK. Mainprize Offshore continues to invest into Cat engines as part of the companies on-going expansion.
Mainprize Offshore has grown from two vessels in 2012 to now having 11 in 2025, with more in production soon to join. This highlights not just the growth of the company but the wider industry.
Wind Europe conducted a survey of the wind energy industry, finding offshore renewables industries will continue to grow, with the UK set to keep its leading position in the sector into 2030.
Bob Mainprize, director at Mainprize Offshore, said: “In order to operate safe transfers in over 2m wave height it is vital to have a robust engine that can keep up with the daily demand of the fleet. We chose the C32B because we and our customers need reliability due to the vigorous working conditions our vessels are operated in.
In an effort to stay ahead and meet demands, Mainprize Offshore has invested into its fleet of CTVs. Daily trips are taken to the offshore wind farms to provide crew and supplies. This requires high-performance engines to maintain efficiency and reliability of the vessels.
Mainprize added: “Thanks to the vessel’s advanced design features – including quality propellers and flow-aligned rudders – combined with the Cat C32B engines’ exceptional fuel efficiency, crews can achieve speeds of up to 26 knots using just 80% power while maintaining optimal fuel consumption.”
Cat C32B engines provide increased power output of 25% compared with the Cat C32, which was used in earlier vessels by Mainprize Offshore.
Mainprize said: “Not only is this important to our business but to the impact on the environment for our customers as we have all become increasingly focused on net-zero goals. We feel that by investing in these high-power and efficient engines we have gone a long way towards futureproofing our vessels ready for lower power zero carbon fuels.”
The new engine also allows vessels to operate at increased wave heights, as the 1,600bhp Cat C32 engines in the company’s MO1 to MO8 vessels can keep its positions at the turbine, allowing engineers to safely transfer to ladders on the turbine structure at a significant wave height maximum of 1.75mHs. This has now been improved to 2mHs, as the Cat C32B engines operate at 2,000bhp in the new MO9.
Gordon Dalrymple, marine sales manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “Finning has been able to support the introduction of these new Cat C32B engines to meet the company’s operational demands. The growing fleet at Mainprize represents the first commercial use of the Cat C32B engines in the country and, while this is a significant investment for the company, the benefits to their business and their customers have been immediate.”
Dalrymple added: “Being able to safely, reliably and efficiently operate in significant wave heights of over 2m means Mainprize Offshore can transfer windfarm maintenance engineers when other operators cannot. We are thrilled to see the commercial use of these engines producing tangible results for our customers, and we are looking forward to continuing our strong relationship with the team as their operation and the offshore industry continues to thrive.”
