Cargo Business Techwire

Friday, September 26, 2014

Rolls Royce rolls out new marine engines

Rolls-Royce has announced the launch of the first unit in a new family of medium-speed engines for the ships that will include versions powered by diesel and gas.

The engines are meant to fit a variety of offshore vessels, including anchor handlers, seismic, subsea construction vessels, semi submersibles and drill ships. The company said the design will also work for commercial vessels such as cargo ships, ropax ferries, cruise and fishing vessels.

The new engines will offer a 20 percent increase in power per-cylinder while reducing fuel consumption, emissions and through-life operating costs compared to existing engines in the Rolls-Royce Bergen range, according to the statement.

The first engine, the diesel-powered B33:45, was officially launched at the SMM maritime industry exhibition in Hamburg.

"Ship owners want better performance at a lower price and society wants cleaner oceans," said Mikael Makinen, president of the Rolls-Royce marine division. "This new family of engines will deliver what our customers need in terms of cost and the environment, and so I’m delighted to be able to launch the first engine in what will be an extensive range, suited to a wide variety of ships."

Rolls Royce says the B33:45 will follow a modular design. The in-line engine platform will consist of 6, 7, 8 and 9-cylinder variants spanning a power range from 3,600kW to 5,400KW. Later, a V-engine range will be introduced with a wide range of incremental power for the marine and land based power plant market, according to the statement.

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