Rolls-Royce: "Dawn of a Transition" for Shipping

Diane Gilpin of B9 said the ships will pay back their extra cost in three to five years

With emissions regulations pushing up the cost of traditional fuels, Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. sees an industry switch to liquefied natural gas (LNG), dimethyl ether, and even wind power, Bloomberg reports.

"We're at the dawn of a transition," said Oskar Levander, vice president for innovation at the company's marine unit.

Rolls-Royce is working with B9 Shipping of Northern Ireland to help develop a ship with a capacity of 4,500 tonnes powered primarily by a 180-foot sail, with bio-methane engines providing additional power.

Sailing vessels dominated shipping until the mid-1800s, when they were replaced by steamships, and hybrid models seek to use new technology to use wind power more efficiently.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations are pushing vessels to either switch to more expensive low-sulfur bunkers or invest in new technology to adopt alternate propulsion systems.

B9 Project Leader Diane Gilpin said that the hybrid ship will cost more than standard ships but will pay back the extra investment in three to five years and will have a lifespan of 30 years.

"Operational budgets are trumping build costs at the moment," she said.

Gilpin said the company needs 15 million pounds ($22 million) to build an operational ship in two years and is willing to package orders with biofuel costs guaranteed by its sister unit, which creates fuel from municipal waste.

The vessel uses technology developed for racing yahts, and B9 predicts it will be capable of running on wind power alone 60 percent of the time.