Rolls-Royce To Power Fuel Efficient Ferries
Rolls-Royce has signed a GBP 20 million contract to supply engines and propulsion equipment for four gas-fuelled ferries to be built for the Norwegian operator Torghatten Nord AS. The vessels will be the first in the world to feature the Rolls-Royce Hybrid Shaft Generator. They will also include lean-burn Rolls-Royce Bergen gas engines and the Promas propeller and rudder system that reduces drag and increases thrust.
The ferries will serve two routes across Vestfjorden in Lofoten in the north of Norway, a stretch of water known for its harsh conditions. They will be built by the Remontowa Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland for delivery in the second half of 2012. The onboard Rolls-Royce technologies will offer an unrivalled environmental performance, including a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, compared to conventional vessels.
Step-Change
Oddbjørn Eliassen, Rolls-Royce, President – Merchant said: “Rolls-Royce is a global leader in the supply of energy efficient technologies which enable ship operators to address the environmental challenges they face. These ferries will combine a range of cutting edge technologies to deliver significant improvements in fuel efficiency and reductions in emissions. ” The Hybrid Shaft Generator (HSG) for instance is an advanced electrical system that enables a step-change in ship efficiency by varying engine and propeller speed to reduce fuel comsumption and consequently lower emissions. Ships’ engines traditionally operate at a fixed speed when conventional shaft generators are in use, but HSG allows shaft speed to be reduced, while maintaining a constant frequency for the electrical supply throughout the ship.