EMD 645 Engines - US Army Corps of Engineers Essayons

Photo by Pdxrailtransit

A long time visitor to Portland, Oregon's Rose Festival Fleet Week, is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge ship Essayons. In June of 1993, when this picture was taken, the vessel was still equipped with EMD 645 engines, for both propulsion, and to power the dredging equipment. The reason ocean going ships can make it up river to Portland, is due in large part to this and sister Army Corps dredges. Columbia River salmon are no longer  serenaded by La Grange, but now have to listen to a  different tune from Peoria: 

 From the CAT website: 

http://marine.cat.com/cda/files/2517571/7/ACERTcommercial.pdf

Essayons was originally powered by 4x EMD 645 main engines (two for propulsion and two for dredge pumping) and 3x Cat® D399 generator sets. In addition to its normal navigation equipment and hotel needs for a crew of 24, the ship needs 60 Hz power to run numerous valves, including those used for flushing and jetting in the hoppers and filling the ballast tanks. After 25 years in service, the main engines were showing their age, and did not meet the latest air-quality standards for California harbours. Consequently, the U.S. Congress approved funds to re-power the ship and install a new power-distribution system. The new line-up consists of eight EPA Tier 2 compliant Cat marine engines: 4x Cat C280-12 main engines, 3x Cat 3512C generator sets and 1x Cat C18 emergency generator set. The Halton Company, the local Cat® dealer, provided consulting services for the installation, with Cascade General providing project management at their Portland Shipyard.