Marine engines

March 14, 2008, HOUSTON, TEXAS – Cummins Inc. (NYSE), on behalf of the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) today affirmed the industry’s support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Final Marine Engine Rule. Geoff Conrad, Cummins General Manager – Marine, made the announcement today at a press conference hosted by the EPA.

The Final Marine Engine Rule is intended to reduce emissions from diesel-fuelled engines installed in marine vessels and locomotives. The legislation completes a series of national emissions standards that apply to diesel engines used for a range of major applications.

Due to the unique installation requirements of both marine and locomotive applications, as well as the resources and infrastructure in place to service these markets, Cummins and the EMA worked closely with the EPA on the development of the legislation and its implementation schedule.

Industry experts and marine designers were enlisted to perform a thorough analysis of the ruling’s impact on both the design and operation of a vessel to ensure the industry could continue to operate while achieving a meaningful reduction of emissions.

Mercury, PCM, Yamaha and Volvo Penta Rank Highest in Marine Engine Customer Satisfaction

MIAMI: 14 February 2008 — Mercury, PCM, Yamaha and Volvo Penta each rank highest among marine engine manufacturers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Marine Engine Competitive Information StudySM released today at the Miami International Boat Show.

Now in its seventh year, the study measures overall customer satisfaction with four marine engine types: EFI inboard; four-stroke EFI outboard; two-stroke DI outboard; and EFI sterndrive. Overall customer satisfaction index scores are based on performance across seven factors: starting ease; quietness at cruise; reliability; fuel economy; shifting smoothness; lack of exhaust fumes; and ability of boat to accelerate rapidly. The study also examines engine quality, where scores are measured as problems per 100 (PP100) engines and a lower score reflects higher quality.

Outboard DI two-stroke segment
Mercury leads in the outboard DI two-stroke segment for a third consecutive year, with slight improvements in engine quality since the 2007 study. Evinrude closely follows Mercury in the segment.

Boat, engine manufacturers and dealers should note responsibilities under new requirements

CHICAGO, Monday, March 12, 2007 – Beginning January 1, 2008, the State of California will introduce a new, more stringent set of exhaust emission regulations for sterndrive and inboard (SD/I) gasoline marine engines, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is encouraging all parties in the SD/I distribution channel—including boatbuilders, engine manufacturers and boat and engine retailers—to understand their individual responsibilities and liabilities associated with the ruling.

“Unlike previously enacted outboard engine and personal watercraft emission regulations, which placed the compliance burden exclusively on marine engine manufacturers, the compliance burden and liability for the SD/I regulation will be shared between the dealer, boatbuilder and engine maker,” says John McKnight, NMMA director of Environmental Safety and Compliance. “That said, it’s critical each party understand its role and know the required steps in order to comply with the ruling.”

CHICAGO, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) responded positively to the proposed new emission standards for marine and locomotive engines in the rulemaking recently announced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If finalized and implemented as proposed, the new requirements for marine and locomotive engines will dramatically reduce emissions from diesel engines used in commercial and recreational marine vessels. EMA is committed to working with EPA to ensure these stringent, technology forcing standards are finalized in a manner consistent with the unique and practical aspects of marine and rail operations.

The new rule is significant because it completes a suite of recent diesel rules from EPA designed to reduce emissions from all new diesel engines in the United States by over 90%. Previously issued rules are yielding very significant emission reductions from on-highway trucks and buses, nonroad construction and farm equipment, and stationary generators and pumps and already require the use of cleaner diesel fuel in marine and locomotive applications.

EMA: Engine Manufacturers Association

Marine Engines with Advanced Technologies Positively Impact Customer Satisfaction, Yet in Many Cases, Technology Does Not Play a Key Role in the Purchase Decision, J.D. Power and Associates Reports

MIAMI: 15 February 2007 — Although owners of advanced-technology marine engines are consistently more satisfied compared to owners of older technology engines (such as carburetor-driven), only one-half of outboard owners report that engine technology played a major role in their purchase decision, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Marine Engine Competitive Information Study(SM) released today at the Miami International Boat Show. Additionally, only 27 percent of inboard owners and 26 percent of sterndrive owners indicate the same.