AWARDS 2023 | Best Small Diesel Engine Supplier – Volvo Penta

Hardly a day goes by at Baird Maritime without a report or mention of a Volvo Penta product. That has been the case for the nearly half century of publication by this company. Volvo Penta products are ubiquitous, and very deservedly so since the company is renowned for its quality, reliability, low emissions and economy.

With an unmatched global network of branches, dealers and servicing outlets, Volvo Penta’s extensive range of engines and propulsion systems, suited to anything from small leisure boats to mid-sized commercial and government vessels, can be purchased and properly maintained almost anywhere.

"Our engines have become the preferred choice for owners and builders due to our unique complete solution offering and commitment to quality and support," William Bratt, Director of Marine Sales and Marketing at Volvo Penta Oceania, told Baird Maritime.

"One of our key strengths is our turnkey solution, providing customers with a seamless 'antenna-to-prop' package. This simplifies operations for owners and builders, offering peace of mind by dealing with a single OEM for the entire propulsion system."

Bratt said that, coupled with a vast global service network powered by the Volvo Group’s capabilities, 24/7 support is ensured. Also, the company's 17 global hubs store over 50,000 unique part numbers, with 8,400 being critical part numbers, guaranteeing fast and reliable spare part delivery to ensure uptime for customers.

"Our control over production processes—from foundry to machining, assembly, and remanufacturing—ensures quality. Using connected production systems, we enhance assembly precision, minimising defects. Also, our marine engines eight litres and above benefit from being derived from the Volvo Group’s proven heavy-duty truck engines, like the proven 13-litre platform, of which roughly 200,000 are produced per year."

Bratt explained that product development begins with computer simulations, followed by rigorous RIG testing, and concludes with real-life testing at marine facilities to simulate lifecycle performance.

"Volvo Penta also invests heavily in R&D. We operate two dedicated marine testing facilities with numerous vessels and recently acquired a 38-metre ferry to develop and perfect our new IPS Professional Platform. Through these investments, we hope to deliver advanced solutions tailored to customer needs.

"Thanks to these test facilities, we are able to test complete life cycles to ensure quality and robustness as well as drive innovation since we can test new features and functions.

"Additionally, we prioritise efficiency and sustainability. Our extended 1,000-hour oil change intervals with oil sampling and IPS ECO Mode push the service intervals to reduce downtime. Our compact IMO III solution has significantly reduced NOx emissions by up to 75 per cent, and all our engines can run on HVO to allow for up to 90 per cent CO2 reduction, contributing to cleaner, more sustainable engine rooms."

Bratt explained that Volvo Penta's engines’ efficiency and maneuverability remains a key driver for customer selection, ensuring performance and reliability in every voyage.

During 2023 and 2024, the company introduced innovations that emphasised sustainability, efficiency, and performance.

"One of our notable projects was our participation in powering a hydrogen-fuelled commercial ferry in Japan (a world-first, featuring a dual-fuel engine)," Bratt told Baird Maritime. "We’ve also expanded our compact IMO III solution across the remaining heavy-duty marine offerings, addressing stricter emission requirements while optimising engine room space. We’ve also showcased advancements in hybrid technology, announcing both parallel and serial hybrid solutions."

Volvo Penta's strategic partnership with another manufacturer has enabled the launch of fixed and variable speed generator sets ranging from four to 16 litres. The company also expanded its expertise in electric propulsion by acquiring a majority share in ZEM, a supplier of marine batteries and electric driveline solutions.

"To further enhance our total solution offering, we’ve become the sole owner of Humphree, taking full control of its cutting-edge stabilisation and trim systems. These acquisitions underline our commitment to delivering seamless, integrated solutions for our customers."

Volvo Penta also completed work on the IPS Professional Platform, set to launch in 2025. This advanced system features a larger IPS unit with dual power, enabling the company to serve commercial vessels and superyachts up to 50 metres.

Bratt explained that the Volvo Penta Marine Commercial segment is gaining increasing traction globally, as brand awareness in the commercial segment is steadily growing. Success stories from customers and operators are helping the company strengthen its foothold in regions where it has historically been less prominent.

"This growth fuels our optimism about the future. These advancements position us strongly to meet the evolving needs of the industry and offer sustainable, high-performance solutions."

Bratt said that, while the marine industry isn’t experiencing rapid overall growth, Volvo Penta remains confident in working to gain market share and focusing on repowering existing vessels to help reduce the fuel usage. Both shipyards and end customers continue to favour the company's products as they appreciate the simplicity of working with a single supplier for a complete propulsion system.

"The commercial marine engine industry is moving steadily toward higher efficiency and greater sustainability, driven by both stricter regulations and a growing willingness among operators to take responsibility for reducing their environmental impact.

"While some regions, such as Australia, currently lack IMO III regulations, we see increasing interest in our IMO III solutions. For example, in partnership with an Australian ferry operator, we recently launched the first Volvo Penta IMO III solution on the Goodna Ferry, operating in Gladstone."

Bratt added that an electric crewboat will be built in the Europe using Volvo Penta IPS propulsion, which is an add-on to the existing built hybrid crewboats. This full-electric project will see the retrofit of a diesel-powered crewboat with a zero-emissions Volvo Penta electric solution.

Bratt said trends shaping the future include the growing demand for crewboats due to the expansion of offshore wind farms, as well as potential increased investment in naval and patrol vessels driven by ongoing global conflicts.

"Additionally, many governments are actively promoting fleet modernisation for passenger ferries, focusing on sustainability. This shift opens the door for solutions involving alternative fuels, hybrid technologies, full-electric systems, and more efficient diesel engines."

Bratt said that, with its expanding portfolio and focus on customer-centric solutions, Volvo Penta will be able to build on the momentum and continue delivering innovative propulsion systems for the marine commercial sector.

Bratt believes the commercial marine engine industry is moving steadily toward higher efficiency and greater sustainability, driven by both stricter regulations and a growing willingness among operators to take responsibility for reducing their environmental impact.

"We are committed to staying ahead of these and other trends by delivering innovative and adaptable propulsion systems, ensuring our customers are equipped to adapt to a rapidly evolving industry," he told Baird Maritime.

For a list of the 2023 "Best Of" award winners, please click here.