Canada-based ship operator Algoma Central will employ diesel emissions scrubbing systems on up to eight North American Great Lakes freighters starting in mid-2013, marine engine giant Wartsila announced January 25.

Caterpillar announced January 26 that it posted record profits in 2011, rising to US$4.928 billion, up 41% from $2.7 billion in 2010.

Mazda announced January 26 that it commenced production of a new “CX-5” diesel car featuring its “SkyActiv-D” emissions controls, which achieve Euro-6 and Japan “new long term” emissions limits – without a lean nitrogen oxides trap (LNT) nor a urea-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system.

United Kingdom-based BAE Systems announced January 24 that it signed a 20-year deal with Caterpillar to collaborate on parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system for heavy-duty diesel trucks.

Union Pacific (UP) – one of North America’s biggest and oldest railroads, founded 150 years ago – on January 19 announced that its 2011 net income rose 18%, to $3.3 billion, compared to $2.8 billion in 2010, despite a big jump in diesel fuel costs.

A compressed natural gas (CNG) storage tank mounted on a transit bus in Brisbane, Australia, exploded January 21, damaging two buses.

The latest and final in a series of annual U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) pre-compliance reports – issued January 19 – shows that U.S. refiners have trimmed their future diesel output plans slightly, in the face of EPA compliance deadlines on non-road diesel desulfurization.

Global shipping giant Maersk Line announced January 26 that it is switching to low-sulfur marine gas oil (MGO) combustion in auxiliary-power engines while its ships are at berth at the greater Hampton Roads, Va., port area.

UOP announced January 26 that it won a contract from Pakistan’s National Refinery Limited (NRL) for a project that will boost diesel and lubricant production.

Russia-based oil giant Lukoil announced January 25 that it signed a deal with Technip to build a heavy-residue hydrocracking complex at the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery in Bulgaria.

Australia has seen imports of diesel fuel skyrocket by 181% in the first 11 months of 2011 versus the same period in 2010, according to a January 24 Tex Energy (Japan) report, citing Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

Russia’s Gazprom Neft has introduced a dewaxing unit paired with a hydrotreating unit at its Omsk refinery, enabling expanded production of low-sulfur diesel with better cold-flow characteristics for winter months.

Uruguay state refiner Ancap will complete a US$330 million modernization of its Teja refinery in the second quarter of 2012, enabling output of 50 parts per million (ppm) sulfur (Euro-4) ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

California-based Solazyme told Diesel Fuel News on January 23 that its algae-derived marine distillate fuel employed for tests on a Maersk Line auxiliary diesel engine “ran fine with no issue at all.”

The Pakistan government is mulling a proposal to cut diesel fuel taxes by 50% in order to encourage greater use of diesel fuel and less use of compressed natural gas (CNG), which is in short supply.

Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) spot and futures prices in major markets rose last week in reaction to a wave of refinery shutdowns in the U.S. and Europe.