Marine operations are challenging in many ways due to the harsh conditions and extreme weather regularly encountered at sea. Investing in a marine propulsion engine is a decision that must be carefully evaluated, as power, performance and total cost of ownership (TCO) are crucial considerations.
 
The Cat^® C280 marine engine has provided reliable power for a variety of maritime applications for 30 years. This field-proven range of engines is especially popular for naval, coast guard and fast ferry applications, given its dependability and serviceability. To meet modern naval demands, the C280 has evolved to ensure greater power density while maintaining the advantages that designers, ship builders and operators expect.
 
Today’s C280 ranges up to 8 MW of power while being up to 30% lighter than similarly powered engines. It provides a high power-to-weight ratio, allowing the weight savings to be allocated for more supplies, fuels or mission-specific equipment. The uprated engine is also biofuel-capable and supports the use of biodiesel fuel blends as well as any mixture of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This helps navies, coast guards and fast ferry operators worldwide to lower carbon fuel emissions and comply with coastal regulations.

The C280 supports operators’ contemporary goals of achieving biofuel compatibility while meeting power requirements. With the new combustion design, the C280 meets the demands of the most difficult environments while increasing performance and reliability. This allows for more vessel speed and payload than previous models along with greater fuel flexibility.

The latest C280 continues building on the engine’s legendary reliability by providing extensive uptime, long service and maintenance intervals, and ease of maintenance for ship operators. An accurate study of the vessel's application and profile helps inform the most appropriate time between overhauls to optimize vessel operation and performance.

When technical service and support is needed, our global Cat dealer network provides highly skilled domestic and international support 24/7. Thanks to more than 400 units with a total of over 16 million running hours, service teams can quickly diagnose any issues. The informed maintenance cycles and skilled technicians truly make an important impact that keeps the engine running optimally.

The C280’s ease of use also enables crew-led maintenance activities. Caterpillar-led and dealer-led world-class training programs equip crew members to perform routine maintenance and operations.

The C280 engine benefits from the experience and expertise of engineering teams at the Lafayette, Indiana, facility where it is manufactured. The 30-acre factory opened in 1982 and operates 24/7 year-round. It has a longstanding track record of innovative research and development that has contributed to new advancements with the C280 engines.

The Next Wave of Marine Propulsion

Since its introduction more than 30 years ago as part of the Cat 3600 series, the C280 has provided critical marine propulsion power for naval and commercial applications. The C280 was the first EPA Tier 4 emissions-compliant medium-speed engine at the time, and it’s available today for IMO Tier 3 applications. As the Cat C280 engine continues to evolve to reach 8 MW as well as accommodate biofuel and HVO use, its hallmark reliability and longevity still hold true.
 
Safety at sea depends on running a field-proven engine that meets today’s power density, reliability and longevity requirements to accomplish the mission and return home. That’s why the C280 is especially well suited to support the needs of evolving naval applications.

Embark on your mission with confidence with the new C280 engine.