Shannon Ferries completes engine remanufacture on ferry

Engineering firm Cummins Inc has remanufactured its first marine engine, the KTA19 for 2000-built Shannon Breeze. 

Shannon Ferry Group operates a two-vessel domestic ferry service. Shannon Breeze sails between Killimer and Tarbert, connecting the counties of Clare and Kerry and forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way tourist route along the west coast of Ireland.

Cummins recently opened the European Master Rebuild Centre in Krakow, Poland where it remanufactured the KTA19 engines for Shannon Breeze. While this engine was in transition and work began, the ferry’s replacement engine was fitted in its place back at the Shannon base in Killimer, to ensure services continued operating without interruption.

Shannon Ferries operation manager Pat Moloney said the company’s ferries “run every day except Christmas Day and are back and forth across the Shannon up to 48 times a day in peak season. They carry around 600,000 people per year on just over 12,000 trips, so they work hard.”

Following the visit to the Krakow rebuild centre, Mr Moloney added, “I was impressed by the set-up and technology, and I could see how, with a planned maintenance approach, it could work financially for operators.”

KTA19 is an IMO Tier 1-certified engine with a power rating of 500-700 hp. The engine is used for commercial marine operations and recreational boating applications around the world. The RCD 2-certified Cummins QSM11 services similar markets and has a power output of 300-714hp. 

Cummins country leader for Ireland, Pat Deegan, said, “Our aftermarket team supports commercial vessels all over the island of Ireland. We understand the importance of this transport link on the west coast for local communities and the growing number of tourists who want to experience the Wild Atlantic Way.”

Shannon’s other ferry, 1995-built Shannon Dolphin, also sails between Killimer and Tarbert. Each of the ferries are powered by four Cummins marine engines – KTA19s on Shannon Breeze and QSM11s on Shannon Dolphin.