CASE STUDY: COX CXO300- THE POWER BEHIND SOUTHAMPTON PORT'S NEW PARTROL RIB
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“Initial feedback about the performance of the Cox engine is very good. Fuel economy is impressive, and the boat performs very well.”
Gary Olden, Marine Services, APB.
Diesel outboard engine delivers significant advantages over petrol with fuel efficiency, lower emissions, storage safety, reliability and long-service
Introduction
For operators and builders of a range of smaller workboats and RIBs, the selection of engine type and fuel will have significant ramifications for vessel performance in their specific commercial applications. It will also impact the boat’s fuel efficiency, long-term costs, safety, reliability, service requirements and more.
A single-fuel alternative was long-awaited by the global commercial market, but now the option is there to look beyond a conventional diesel inboard engine or comparable petrol outboard.
Offering appealing benefits including fuel savings, a longer service-life, fuel commonality and space savings, diesel outboard engines can offer game-changing potential for commercial operators, whose focus traditionally centres on durability, fuel performance, ease of service and minimising down-time.
About the company
The Port of Southampton, located on the south coast of England, has been owned and operated by Associated British Ports since 1982, and is the busiest cruise port and second largest container port in the UK. It handles 14m tonnes of cargo each year and contributes £1bn a year to the UK economy.
ABP operates a total of 21 ports in the UK, handling a combined £150 billion of trade a year and together supporting 119,000 jobs, 15,000 of them at Southampton. Enforcing harbour by-laws and safety is a vital part of this massive operation.
The Challenge
When Associated British Ports (ABP) specified a new fast response RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) to patrol the water in and around the Port of Southampton, UK, the aim was for the vessel to be fuel-efficient, environmentally sound and have the highest possible levels of safety for its crews. It also had to be agile enough to operate in the shallow waters at the far reaches of the Port of Southampton’s jurisdiction.
Built by Berthon of Lymington, UK, the 7.8m Commercial Grade RIB would be used by the ABP Southampton team to enforce harbour by-laws and to carry out other harbour duties by its safety security patrols.
The Solution
The power for the new RIB, named Swift, is provided by an innovative next generation high-performance diesel outboard engine from ground-breaking British manufacturer, Cox Marine. And it is perfect for the job.
Cox Marine is a leading British design and engineering innovator of diesel engines developed for marine applications globally. Based on the South Coast of England, the company has implemented a long-term development programme of ground-breaking new products. Its high-powered 300hp CXO300 diesel outboard engine delivers the same performance as a gasoline outboard, but with the fuel efficiency and reliability of a diesel inboard.
The ABP RIB is installed with a Cox CXO300 diesel outboard and is capable of achieving nearly 40 knots, matching and in many cases exceeding the performance of traditional petrol outboard engines, but with far greater fuel efficiency and reliability.
Gary Olden, Marine Services Supervisor at ABP Southampton, said:
“ABP selected the Cox diesel outboard over the petrol for several reasons: fuel efficiency taking into account the white high-grade diesel we use for lower emissions for environmental reasons; safety aspects regarding the storing of petrol; and the long service and reliability of the engine.”
Ben Bradley-Watson, New Business Manager at Berthon, explained how client and manufacturer had opted for high-powered diesel over petrol because of the lower total cost of ownership from reduced operational costs. He said:
“Along with easier access to fuel, this diesel outboard also offered the benefit of reduced fuel burn compared to similar size petrol outboards.”
Compared to a petrol outboard, the diesel CXO300 has a high stator output enabling quick battery charging to easily run all the high-load electrical and electronic equipment including the complete Raymarine navigation suite, the ICOM communication and PA system, and IRIS digital cameras.
The Result
The CXO300 provides game-changing potential with its reduced weight and package size compared to conventional diesel inboard engines. It also offers the same torque and fuel efficiency as a diesel inboard, with 100% higher peak torque than the leading gasoline 300hp outboards.
Gary Olden added that ABP had been delighted with both the performance and the fuel efficiency of the Cox CXO300 diesel outboard engine.
He said:
“Initial feedback about the performance of the Cox engine is very good. Fuel economy is impressive, and the boat performs very well. Although it has a top speed of 39 knots, the majority of our running will be 6-8 knots. The engine is surprisingly quiet for a V8 diesel engine.”
Designed for commercial and recreational use, the CXO300 is a new generation of diesel marine technology, offering a high-powered diesel outboard to the marine market. Delivering 479 lb.ft torque at 2250-3000 revolutions per minute, the CXO300 allows your vessel to move through the water in a much more controlled and smooth manner, while also meeting the demands for a high performing outboard engine and ensuring safety and convenience at the same time.
With up to 30% better fuel efficiency compared to a 300hp gasoline outboard, and with a service life that is three times your average outboard, the CXO300 not only provides unique fuel savings, but it also provides exceptional total cost of ownership savings.
Supported by a network of 30 distributors covering over 100 territories, the CXO300 outboard engine is currently available to order across the globe. To purchase your CXO300 outboard, find your local Cox Representative here
