Marine
Generator Sets
ASO Genset marine generator sets are designed for reliable onboard power in harsh marine environments—salt spray, high humidity, vibration, and long operating hours. Our marine gensets feature corrosion-resistant protection, stable output, compact footprints, and low-noise operation for yachts, workboats, fishing vessels, and offshore applications.
Tell us your required kW/kVA, voltage/frequency, and installation space, and we’ll recommend the right configuration and provide a fast quotation.
Request a Quote
We look after even the smallest detail of each marine generator set, custom designing them according to the characteristics and requirements of each project.
Superior Functionality and Key Benefits
By assessing your specific requirements, our engineering team ensures you receive a marine generator optimized for both performance and functionality. This guarantees dependable maritime operations alongside industry-leading fuel efficiency
Marine Gensets for All Needs
We leverage in-house R&D to provide global, scalable marine power. Engineered to resist salt-air corrosion and high humidity, our generators deliver reliable, silent performance in both ports and open waters
Reliable and Silent Marine Generators
Our compact generators pair world-class components with custom, stainless steel enclosures. These lightweight cabins provide superior noise insulation and tool-free access for effortless maintenance.
Characteristics of Marine Generator Sets
Configuration
Robust, silent, and corrosion-resistant power solutions engineered for peak performance in the harshest maritime environments.
- Keel or radiator cooling
- Access to filters from a single access point
- Water collector and exhaust cooler
- Closed crankcase ventilation system
- Protection rating: IP23
- Voltage regulation: ±0.5% or ±1%
- Number of wires: 12. Standard single-bearing mechanical configuration
- Multi-voltage
- Short-circuit capacity: 300% (3 IN) for 10 seconds
- Stainless steel bench
- High quality and custom components
- 12/24V batteries
- Marine anti-vibration pads
- Engine monitoring and control
- J1939 interface configurable with the engine
- Revolution counter
- Oil pressure indicator
- Engine temperature indicator
- Stop alarms (oil pressure, temperature, and speed)
- Warning alarms (battery charge failure, start and stop control)
- Wiring, alarms, and integrated sensors
- PLC configurable
Optional Features of
Marine Generator Sets
- Generator sets with remote radiator for cooling outside the room
- Special generator sets for operation in extremely cold climates with special internal heating systems
- Generator sets with seismic certification according to each project
- Containers compartmentalised in independent rooms
- Containers with RF100 systems
- Containers with interior air conditioning systems
- Cabins/containers painted according to the most demanding requirements and in accordance with the ISO 12944 standard
- Containers with fire extinguishing systems (all types)
- Dust/sand ingress filtering systems inside the cabins/containers
- Complete design control to adapt to any type of operation through any brand PLC, even controlling part of the installation external to the generator set itself
- Special synchronisation systems between several networks and several generator sets
- Special protection relays to comply with any protection required according to ANSI regulations
- Medium voltage generator sets, either by direct generation from the alternator or through a step-up transformer, including medium voltage cells
- Special tests against cold, heat, rattling, salt spray, rain, etc
How to Choose the Right Marine Generator Size
Choosing the right marine generator depends on three factors: the size of your vessel, your onboard electrical loads, and how often you run the system. Undersized units overheat and fail prematurely; oversized units waste fuel and shorten engine life. Use the chart below as a starting point.
| Vessel Type | Length | Recommended kVA | Typical Loads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small yacht / cruiser | 25-40 ft | 6-12 kVA | Lighting, navigation, small fridge |
| Mid-size yacht | 40-60 ft | 15-30 kVA | AC, watermaker, full galley |
| Large motoryacht | 60-100 ft | 30-80 kVA | Hotel loads, hydraulics, thrusters |
| Houseboat | 30-50 ft | 10-20 kVA | Continuous living loads |
| Fishing trawler | 50-100 ft | 50-150 kVA | Refrigeration, winches, deck lights |
| Workboat / tugboat | 40-80 ft | 80-300 kVA | Hydraulics, pumps, deck equipment |
| Offshore supply vessel | 100+ ft | 300-1,000 kVA | Heavy industrial loads |
| Cargo ship / container | 150+ ft | 500-2,000 kVA | Auxiliary power, port hoteling |
For mixed loads (continuous + intermittent), engineers typically size at 50-70% of peak demand to keep the generator in its optimal load range — better fuel efficiency and longer engine life. Need exact sizing? Send us your equipment list and we'll run a load calculation.
For deeper sizing guidance, see our complete guide to marine generators covering sizing, selection, and full system design. For fishing trawler-specific sizing (refrigeration, winches, lighting loads), see our fishing trawler generator sizing guide. For yacht-specific sizing, see our Yacht Generator Selection Guide.
Marine Generator Power Range Specifications
Our marine generator sets cover the full spectrum from compact yacht units to high-capacity industrial vessels. Each model uses marine-grade engines (Cummins, Caterpillar, Volvo Penta, Perkins, Yanmar) matched with brushless alternators rated for continuous marine duty.
| Power (kVA) | Fuel Consumption (L/h @ 75%) | Noise (dBA @ 7m) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-12 kVA | 1.6-2.8 | 58-62 | Small yacht, sailboat auxiliary |
| 15-30 kVA | 3.2-6.5 | 60-65 | Mid-size yacht, sportfishing |
| 50-80 kVA | 10.5-17 | 62-68 | Large yacht, small workboat |
| 100-200 kVA | 22-44 | 65-70 | Tugboat, fishing trawler |
| 250-500 kVA | 55-105 | 68-72 | Offshore vessel, dredger |
| 800-2,000 kVA | 170-410 | 70-75 | Cargo ship, industrial vessel |
All units come standard with marine-grade corrosion protection, anti-vibration mounts, and optional stainless steel enclosures. Custom voltage (220V / 380V / 415V / 440V / 3,300V) and frequency (50 Hz / 60 Hz) configurations are available.
Marine Compliance & Classification Society Approvals
Commercial vessels and many large yachts require generator sets that meet strict marine classification standards. ASO Genset marine generators are designed and tested to comply with the major international standards:
Type-approval documentation can be provided for new builds and refit projects. Contact our compliance team early in your project to ensure the correct certifications are included from day one — retrofitting compliance later is significantly more expensive.
For an in-depth breakdown of each classification society's requirements and certification process, read our guide: Understanding Marine Generator Certifications: From ABS to Lloyd's Register.
For offshore platform applications, see our Custom Offshore Generator Cabin Design Guide.
Marine Cooling Systems Explained
Marine generator cooling is more critical than land-based systems because of salt corrosion and confined engine room conditions. We offer three standard cooling configurations:
Sea Water Heat Exchanger (Closed Circuit)
The most common setup for yachts and pleasure craft. Engine coolant circulates in a closed loop and transfers heat to raw sea water through a tube-and-shell exchanger. Cuprous nickel components resist salt corrosion. Best for: yachts, sportfishing boats, mid-size commercial vessels.
Keel Cooling
Heat is dissipated through cooling pipes mounted along the hull below the waterline. No raw sea water enters the engine room — lower maintenance, ideal for muddy or sediment-heavy waters (rivers, harbors, shrimp grounds). Best for: commercial fishing vessels, workboats, tugboats, river
Radiator Cooling
Traditional air-cooled radiator. Used on offshore platforms, support vessels with abundant fresh water, or where engine room ventilation is exceptional. Best for: offshore stationary platforms, large vessels with dedicated machinery rooms.
Typical Marine Generator Projects
We've supplied marine generator sets for projects ranging from 6 kVA pleasure craft units to 1,500 kVA offshore support vessels. Representative configurations:
60 ft Sportfishing Yacht — Dual 30 kVA Marine Gensets
Twin generator setup for full redundancy. Sea water cooled, sound-attenuated enclosures rated at 65 dBA. Powers HVAC, galley, watermaker, and electronics during extended offshore trips.
Coastal Tugboat — 200 kVA Skid-Mounted Marine Genset
Replacement project for an aging unit. Keel-cooled configuration, IMO Tier II compliant. Integrated with vessel's J1939 monitoring system. Stainless steel enclosure for full salt-spray protection.
Offshore Wind Farm Crew Transfer Vessel — 80 kVA
Compact installation in a 25 m aluminum CTV. Variable speed alternator for fuel optimization at low loads. ABS type approval, full noise enclosure for 24/7 operation.
Pacific Fishing Trawler — 250 kVA Refrigeration-Duty Generator
High duty cycle for onboard freezer compartments. Keel-cooled to handle sediment-heavy fishing grounds. Custom paint per ISO 12944 corrosion class C5-M.
Hopper Dredger — 1,000 kVA Auxiliary Power Plant
Heavy industrial application. Medium-voltage output (3,300 V) through step-up transformer. Custom cabin with fire suppression and salt-spray testing.
Maintenance, Service & Lifecycle
A properly maintained marine generator can run reliably for 20,000+ operating hours — often 15-20 years on light-duty pleasure craft, 8-12 years on commercial vessels. Typical service intervals:
- Daily: Visual check, oil/coolant levels, exhaust water flow
- Every 250 hours: Oil and filter change, sea water strainer cleaning
- Every 500 hours: Air filter, fuel filter, anode inspection
- Every 1,000 hours: Coolant change, valve clearance, injector test
- Every 2,000-3,000 hours: Heat exchanger cleaning, raw water pump rebuild
For day-to-day maintenance pitfalls and an engineer's checklist, see Marine Generator Daily Maintenance: 5 Critical Pitfalls. For lifecycle cost planning, see our guides on fishing trawler generator lifecycle cost and hybrid generator + solar systems for fuel-efficient marine operations.
Marine Generator FAQ
Contact
Do You Need a Generator Set?
