Rolls-Royce has entered a deal with Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven to provide its automatic crossing system for two new double-ended, plug-in, battery-hybrid ferries.
Kleven will begin construction of the ferries next month at its Myklebust Verft Shipyard in Norway.
The Multi Maritime-designed ferries are set to be owned by Norwegian ferry company FosenNamsos, and are expected for delivery late next year. They are scheduled to begin operation on 1 January 2019.
Rolls-Royce’s innovative crossing system will control the ferries as they cross the fjord between Norway’s Flakk and Rørvik, connecting the peninsula of Fosen with Trondheim.
The system will ensure safe and energy-efficient transit, as well as enabling the operator to comply with Norway’s annual energy consumption limit set by Sør-Trøndelag Fylkeskommune.
In addition, the crossing system automatically controls the vessel’s acceleration, deceleration, speed and track. The captain of the vessel can supervise the automated programme, and use traditional manoeuvring systems to intervene when required.
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By GlobalDataRolls-Royce marine automation and control product manager Jann Strand said: “These additional orders for the Rolls-Royce Automatic Crossing System mean it is fast becoming the industry standard for double-ended ferry control systems, helping the customer meet their contractual need to ensure predictable energy consumption optimised for varying environmental conditions.
“The Automatic Crossing System can be installed as an add-on to any standard Rolls-Royce azimuthing thruster, which means it can be retrofitted to the existing fleet of ferries around the world.”
The company is planning to make the automatic crossing system compatible with its Unified Bridge ship controlling solution.
Rolls-Royce is further seeking to test an extension of the product that facilitates automatic berthing in the future.
Image: Vessels operating on waterway. Photo: courtesy of Rolls-Royce plc.