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Caterpillar / CAT · Independent specialists

Caterpillar marine engine service and repair.

Hands-on experience with CAT marine main engines and generator sets — from C-series high-speed engines to 3500-series installations. Diagnosis, maintenance, overhaul and alignment, carried out on board anywhere in Europe.

Families
C7 – C32 · 3406 – 3516
Also
CAT-based generator sets
Work
Service · Repair · Overhaul
Status
Independent — not a dealer
Experience

CAT engines are everywhere in the fleet — and they reward proper diagnosis

Caterpillar marine diesels power a large share of superyachts and commercial vessels, from C-series high-speed engines in planing yachts to 3500-series units in displacement vessels and shadow boats. They are robust engines with excellent parts availability and detailed published specifications, which makes them very well suited to measurement-based diagnosis: when you know the target values, you can prove what is wrong instead of replacing parts hopefully.

We service, repair and overhaul CAT marine engines and CAT-based generator sets on board across Europe, including engines originally supplied through regional distributors such as PON Power in the Netherlands and Northern Europe.

Independent service provider. Superyacht Engine Service is an independent marine engineering company. We are not an authorised dealer, official service partner or representative of Caterpillar Inc., Caterpillar Marine or its distributors including PON Power. The Caterpillar Inc., Caterpillar Marine or its distributors including PON Power name and model designations are used purely to describe the equipment we service, and all trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. For warranty work or factory-authorised service, contact the manufacturer's official network.
Engine families

CAT marine engines we work on

FamilyTypical modelsWhere you find them
C-series high speedC7, C9, C12, C18, C32Yacht main engines, fast commercial craft, gensets
3400 series3406, 3408, 3412Older yacht propulsion, workboats, auxiliaries
3500 series3508, 3512, 3516Larger yachts, shadow vessels, commercial propulsion and power generation
Generator setsCAT and Olympian marine gensetsHotel and auxiliary load — see generator service
Common work

What we are typically called in for

  • Fault codes and derates — electronic engine management codes read and then verified mechanically, so a sensor fault is not treated as a turbo failure.
  • Injector and fuel system work — including electronic unit injector service on C-series and 3500-series engines, fuel pressure and return-flow testing.
  • Turbocharger and aftercooler — boost loss, oil carry-over, aftercooler core fouling and corrosion, exhaust back pressure.
  • Cooling system faults — raw water circuit, seawater pumps, heat exchanger and aftercooler cleaning and pressure testing, coolant condition.
  • Cylinder head and valve work — clearance setting, head reconditioning, valve recession, gasket and liner sealing problems.
  • Top-end and in-frame overhauls — liners, pistons, rings and bearings to CAT tolerances, documented. See overhaul.
  • Alignment and mounts — after any engine or gearbox work. See alignment.
  • Oil analysis and condition monitoring — trending wear metals and fuel dilution to plan work before failure.
Approach

Measured against CAT's own numbers

CAT publishes clear service specifications — clearances, pressures, temperatures and torque values. Our work is built around them: readings taken with the engine running and under load, compared against the specification and against the vessel's previous records, and handed over in writing. That documentation is what lets a chief engineer, a manager or a surveyor see exactly what condition the engine is in.

Full service scope: on-site repair, scheduled maintenance, overhaul, alignment and emergency callout.

Questions we get asked

Frequently asked questions

Which Caterpillar marine engines do you service?

Mainly the C-series high-speed engines (C7 to C32), the 3400 series (3406, 3408, 3412) and the 3500 series (3508, 3512, 3516), plus CAT-based marine generator sets. Tell us the model and serial and we will confirm the scope we can cover before you commit.

Can you work on engines supplied through PON Power?

Yes. Many CAT engines in Dutch and Northern European vessels were supplied through PON Power. We service and repair those engines independently — we are not affiliated with PON Power and do not carry out their warranty work.

Can you read CAT electronic fault codes?

Yes, and more importantly we verify them. A logged code tells you which circuit complained; pressures, temperatures and flow measurements tell you why. Both go into the report.

Do you carry out CAT in-frame overhauls on board?

Yes, where engine room access allows. Liners, pistons, rings and bearings are renewed to CAT tolerances with every measurement recorded, followed by controlled run-in and a sea trial.

Are you an authorised dealer for this brand?

No. We are an independent marine engineering company and we say so plainly. We service, repair and overhaul these engines on their technical merits; for factory warranty work or authorised-network service, go to the manufacturer’s official dealer. Many owners and managers use us alongside the dealer network — independently for service and repair, and through the dealer where warranty requires it.

Do you use genuine parts?

We source genuine and OEM-equivalent parts through established marine suppliers, and we tell you which is which. On critical internal components we recommend genuine parts; on many service items a quality equivalent is sound engineering at a better price. The choice stays yours.

Service enquiry

Tell us about the engine and the vessel.

Send the details below and you will hear back from an engineer, not a call centre. For a vessel that is stranded or on a tight departure slot, call +31 6 20743967 or message us on WhatsApp.

Direct line

CAT engine giving you trouble?

Send the model, serial, running hours and the fault codes shown. You get a technical answer from an engineer who has had these engines apart.

Superyacht Engine Service — powered by Marine Service Altena B.V.
+31 6 20743967 · info@superyachtengineservice.com
KvK 99330911 · Available for callout across Europe
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