Rolls-Royce Engines to Power Five LNG-Fuelled Torghatten Nord Ferries

Rolls-Royce has signed a deal to supply 15 engines for five Torghatten Nord LNG-powered ferries. Image: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce plc (Rolls-Royce) today announced that it has signed a deal to supply 15 gas engines for five Torghatten Nord AS (Torghatten Nord) liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ferries.

"Since the introduction of our first marine gas engines ten years ago, Rolls-Royce has delivered more than 700 gas engines on land and at sea accumulating over 25 million running hours of operating experience," said Kjell Harloff, Rolls-Royce, VP Engines – Marine.

"We have proved that the Bergen lean-burn, pure gas, medium-speed engine range, combined with efficient hull designs, can help customers, like Torghatten Nord, cut their ships’ emissions and fuel bills significantly."

The 15 C26:33L9AGs engines that are to be supplied under the contract can operate on variable speed in order to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions, notes Rolls-Royce.

"The Bergen C26:33 series reduces total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 20 percent compared to a similar diesel engine, even including the effects of methane slip, and is IMO Tier 3 compliant without the need of exhaust after treatment system," explains Rolls-Royce.

"Engine rooms on gas powered vessels also stay much cleaner, saving operators time and money by reducing the frequency of cleaning tasks and the cost of chemicals."

The Multi Maritime-designed ferries are slated to operate between Bergen and Stord, Norway upon their entry into service in January 2019.

Two of the vessels are set to be built at the VARD Brevik yard in Norway, while the other three will be built at the Tersan Shipyard in Turkey.

As Ship & Bunker reported in January, Vard has said that both vessels will be "designed for environmentally friendly operations," and will feature hybrid gas-electric propulsion with battery systems in order to reduce bunker consumption and associated emissions.