2003

Ukraine is becoming an increasingly important market for Volvo Penta. Yet another tugboat equipped with only Volvo Penta engines onboard, has now been launched at one of Europe’s largest shipyards, Chernomorskiy Shipbuilding Yard in Nikolaev. Volvo Penta has delivered a total of 34 diesel engines for tugboats in Ukraine since May 2001.

Volvo Penta is enjoying continued success with sales of engines for vessels operating in canal and river traffic in the US. When the barge transportation company, Stevens Towing in South Carolina, recently installed its first four-stroke diesel engines in one of its tugboats, its choice of engine was Volvo Penta’s TAMD165C. The results to date are impressive – the company calculates that it gains the equivalent of one engine per year through lower fuel and maintenance costs!

The car ferry Venus, which recently entered traffic, is the Swedish Road Administration’s most modern ferry and the first in a series with a distinct environmental profile. The propulsion engines onboard are modern Volvo Penta low-emission engines equipped with catalytic converters and particle filters. The high efficiency of the engines results in low fuel consumption and good performance.

Volvo Penta and Wärtsilä have signed a Best Partner agreement with the largest ownership group in the Russian shipyard industry, the OMZ (United Heavy Machinery – Uralmash-lzhora) Group.

A new multipropeller with adjustable and exchangeable blades and a new series of engine-room fans are the latest QL products from Volvo Penta. Volvo Penta’s operations for boat accessories under the QL-Quality Line name continue to develop well. Sales are projected to increase 20% this year, among other factors as a result of more products and sales channels. Another two products are now being launched. A multipropeller with adjustable blades for outboards of between 20 and 300 hp, plus a new series of engine-room fans that meet European and US safety standards according to ISO, N.M.M.A. and US Coast Guard. *

Volvo Penta is a major supplier of engines and drive systems to Kirby Inland Marine – the largest operator of tank barges in the US. To date, Volvo Penta has delivered about 100 diesel engines ranging in sizes from 5 to 34 litres for propulsion as well as for generator sets

Volvo Penta recently equipped two Kuwaiti workboats, a pilot boat and a buoy layer, with twin 34-liter diesel engines. Both vessels, which have been laid-up since the invasion by Iraq in the beginning of the 1990s, are now in service in the Kuwait City harbor.

Volvo and Wärtsilä are planning future cooperation regarding service and delivery of marine diesel engines for commercial shipping. The cooperation will be initiated in a number of selected markets, with global coverage planned thereafter.

This autumn Volvo Penta is launching a totally new generation of medium-heavy diesel engines for leisure boats. Volvo Penta has invested a total of about SEK 600 M in the new engines, which set completely new standards for performance, comfort, emissions and noise levels.

When Volvo Cars introduced its first internally developed diesel engine in 2001, it attracted substantial attention due to its good performance features. Volvo Penta is now producing a marine diesel version of the same engine and, accordingly, enters a completely new boat segment.