UK: Rolls-Royce Develops Two New Types of Propulsion Systems

A significant proportion of the £923M Rolls-Royce spent on research & development last year will result in a new Mermaid propulsion system for arctic operation and a new Bergen B engine designed to meet IMO Tier III requirements.

Rolls-Royce Marine is collaborating with an undisclosed Norwegian company to integrate its selective catalytic reduction system with the new B engine. However, further information relating to the ice Mermad was not disclosed.

The Group’s marine division, which now equals that of its defence aerospace division in terms of turnover, hopes to introduce the new products to the market over the coming months, Shipping World & Shipbuilder can report.

The news follows the announcement that ABB is now looking to develop its recently improved Azipod XO for for the ice-class fleet. Azipoid XI will have all the energy efficiency and maintenance reducing gains of the XO unit and is expected to be on the market within the next five years.

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Source: Imarest, October 10, 2011