Rolls-Royce Receives First Orders Based On Award Winning "Environship" Design

Rolls-Royce says it has received its first order for vessels based on the group’s award-winning, highly efficient, “Environship” concept. Rolls-Royce will design and provide integrated power and propulsion systems for two technologically advanced cargo vessels purchased by the Norwegian transportation company, Nor Lines AS.

These highly efficient ships feature a wave piercing bow and hull design, world leading gas powered engines and an innovative Promas propulsion system which combined could increase fuel efficiency by up to 18 percent. The vessel also promises numerous environmental benefits including the virtual elimination of SOx and reduction of CO2 emissions by more than 40 percent compared to similar conventional vessels.

The two vessels will be built at the Tsuji Heavy Industries shipyard in Jiangsu, China and are expected to enter service in October 2013, operating along the West Coast of Norway.

“The Environship concept is a transformational development for merchant shipping, offering significant reductions in fuel burn and emissions, as well as enhanced performance at sea” said Rolls-Royce’s President,OddbjÃ¸rn Eliassen.

The contract for the two ships includes options to build an additional two vessels of the same design. Rolls-Royce is already using the Environship concept to develop a wide range of other efficient ship designs, including passenger ferries, chemical tankers, gas tankers, bulk carriers, and superyachts.

The Rolls-Royce Environship concept received the prestigious Next Generation Ship Award at this year’s NorShipping event in Oslo, Norway.