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Marine
World’s First Alternative-Fuel Power Boat Arrives in Miami
(Charleston, SC, USA) – With the price of fuel at the pump topping $3 a gallon this past summer, recreational boaters the world over are following the record-setting tour of Peter Bethune aboard his futuristic Earthrace powerboat as his team prepares to break the world circumnavigation record of 75 days.
Scheduled to arrive in Florida for the Miami Boat Show on February 15th, the Earthrace vessel is the world's first major powerboat record to be attempted using renewable fuels. The boat will be available for tours and will be docked at the Sea Isle Marina (slip 945). The Sea Isle Marina is located at the Marriot Biscayne Bay in Miami and is an official show site for boat displays and demonstrations. The boat is powered by 100% biodiesel, a fuel made from plant matter and animal fats that produces low emissions and is biodegradable. Powered by two 540 HP Cummins MerCruiser Diesel engines (QSC8.3-540), the boat has a unique wave-piercing hull that goes through, rather than rides on top of waves.
“We see the Earthrace as a valuable project, drawing much-needed attention to the use of cleaner fuels on the water, says Gary Dickman, CMD Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing. “Circumnavigating the globe represents the pinnacle of powerboat challenges, and at 24,000 nautical miles, is also the world's longest race.”
The CMD engines were selected because they have very low emissions compared to other engines initially considered. Secondly, they are highly efficient, something paramount when you're looking to achieve the maximum possible range. Additionally, they have one of the highest power-to-weight ratios of any similarly powered engine, and yet this is achieved while still maintaining high reliability. Finally, CMD offers worldwide support, which made them a perfect partner with Earthrace.
The Earthrace boat will commence her record attempt immediately following the Miami Show. A special press event honoring Captain Pete Bethune and the Earthrace crew is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Thursday (2/15) in booth P82 (Miami Beach Convention Center).
Based in Charleston, South Carolina (USA), Cummins MerCruiser Diesel is responsible for designing, manufacturing and providing reliable after-sales support worldwide for marine products. It offers a broad range of power, with available ratings from 115-715HP for recreational applications and 76-715HP for commercial use. Cummins MerCruiser Diesel is a joint venture between Cummins, Inc. and Mercury Marine and can be found on the Internet at www.cmdmarine.com.
For further information, contact Ted Varner (CMD Communications Manager) at 843-745-1586 or ted.varner@cummins.com.
High resolution photography can be downloaded from our FTP site: http://www.cmdmarine.com/ftp.
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