Rolls-Royce to deliver world's first gas power system for tugs

                             Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has signed a contract to deliver highly efficient engines and propulsion systems for the world’s first Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) powered tugs.

                             The two vessels have been ordered by Norwegian company Buksér og Berging AS and will enter service in late 2013 for Statoil, the international energy company, and Gassco, the operator of the gas transportation network off the Norwegian coast.

Robert Løseth, Rolls-Royce, Senior VP - Merchant, Propulsion Systems and Engines said: “This is a breakthrough for our Bergen gas engines and cutting edge propulsion technology. 

                             The choice our customer has made highlights the industry leading engine performance, fuel consumption and low methane emissions that Rolls-Royce can offer, which is now being applied to tugs. ” 

                             In addition to two gas engines and an LNG tank system, Rolls-Royce will deliver an azimuth propulsion system for each tug, which will provide the quick and responsive manoeuvring that is critically important for tug operators. These tugs will be the first vessels to use the newly designed Rolls-Royce US35 azimuth thrusters, which have improved hydrodynamic performance and hull integration.

                             The combined power and propulsion system is estimated to give a reduction in CO2 emissions of 30% compared to similar conventional vessels, and will comply with all known future emission regulations.

Rolls-Royce will also provide automation and control systems for the two vessels.

1. Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
2.  As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
3. Annual underlying revenues were over £10.8 billion in 2010, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at £61.4 billion at 30 June 2011, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
4. Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.
5. In 2010, Rolls-Royce invested £923 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
6. Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
7. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.
8. The Marine business of Rolls-Royce employs 9,000 people in 35 countries with the main manufacturing centres being in the UK, the Nordic countries, the United States and increasingly Asia.
9. Rolls-Royce is a world leader in marine solutions, providing products, service and expertise to more than 30,000 vessels in the offshore, merchant, naval surface and submarine markets. It designs ships and its product range includes propulsion systems featuring diesel engines and gas turbines, propellers, thrusters and water jets. Rolls-Royce also provides manoeuvring and stabilising systems and deck machinery.