ro-pax vessels

Rendering of Havila Kystruten’s new Ro-Pax vessels. Credit: Rolls-Royce plc.

Rolls-Royce has received a contract to provide power and propulsion solutions for four new Ro-Pax vessels to be owned by Norway’s Havila Kystruten.

The ships will feature a Havyard 923 design and are scheduled to begin service in January 2021 on the coastal route to serve the cities of Bergen and Kirkenes in Norway.

Havila Kystruten has already contracted Spain’s Astillero Hijos de J Barreras shipyard to build two of the vessels and Turkey’s Tersan yard to build the remaining two.

Under the arrangement, Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine will provide a set of fully integrated liquefied natural gas (LNG) power and propulsion solution for all the four ships.

The solution will comprise two LNG fuel tanks with a processing system, control and safety units, as well as four Bergen gas engines. It will also include main propulsion thrusters of type Azipull with Permanent Magnet (PM) drive motor, PM tunnel thrusters, and stabilisers of type Neptune 200.

Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine LNG Fuel Systems Technical Product Manager Steinar Oppedal said: “Havila Kystruten has chosen an LNG fuel system that builds on our long experience with these type of systems, designed to be robust and reliable in rough weather conditions.

“The system and its engines will provide a significant reduction in emissions compared to conventional diesel engines.”

“No less important is the fact that the system and its engines will provide a significant reduction in emissions compared to conventional diesel engines.”

Rolls-Royce has partnered with the designers of the Havila Kystruten ship to develop the main propulsion thrusters with integrated PM motors in order to ensure optimal integration with the hull.

The company’s PM tunnel thrusters are expected to enable a slimmer hull shape due to their narrow design, as well as allow Havila Kystruten to meet its energy efficiency and low emissions goals.

The Rolls-Royce Bergen engine series is designed to reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by nearly 20% compared to their counterparts and is compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Tier 3 regulation.