Norwegian ship owning company orders four newbuild Ro-Pax vessels
Published by David Rowlands,
Editor
LNG Industry,
Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine will provide power and propulsion for all four of the vessels. As of January 2021, Havila Kystruten will operate four vessels on the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes. The company has reportedly contracted Spain’s Astillero Hijos de J. Barreras shipyard to construct two of the cruise ferries, and Turkey’s Tersan yard to construct the other two.
Rolls-Royce will provide a fully integrated LNG power and propulsion solution to all four ships. This will include two LNG tanks with a process system and control and safety systems, four Bergen gas engines, main propulsion thrusters of type Azipull with Permanent Magnet (PM) drive motor, PM tunnel thrusters and stabilisers of type Neptune 200.
According to Rolls-Royce, the main propulsion thrusters with integrated PM motors are developed alongside ship designers, in order to ensure optimal integration with the hull. The energy efficient tunnel thrusters reportedly enable a slimmer hull shape because of their narrow design, which fits well with the project’s aim of achieving energy efficiency and low emissions. Combined with the roll damping effect of the stabilisers, the low noise and vibration levels of the PM tunnel thrusters will help improve the comfort of both passengers and crew.
The LNG Fuel System from Rolls-Royce will supply Bergen gas generator sets. Each vessel will feature two engines with nine in-line cylinders, as well as two with six cylinders. These engines are able to operate on variable speed in order to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions. The Bergen engines series is utilised in a number of vessel types, including cargo vessels, PSVs, tugs and passenger vessels. In the statement, Rolls-Royce claims that two separate LNG fuel systems are designed in cooperation with the shipowner and include flexibility to bunker both tanks from the same side of the ship, as well as the option to supply the front and aft machine rooms from both tanks. This makes sure that high redundancy and flexibility are achieved during operation.
Steinar Oppedal, Technical Product Manager for LNG Fuel Systems, Rolls-Royce – Commercial Marine, commented: “Havila Kystruten has chosen a LNG fuel system that builds on our long experience with these type of systems, designed to be robust and reliable in rough weather conditions. No less important is the fact that the system and its engines will provide a significant reduction in emissions compared to conventional diesel engines.”
The chosen Bergen engines series reportedly decreases total greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20% compared to a similar diesel engine. The series is also IMO Tier 3 compliant. Rolls-Royce claims that the entire LNG System is designed for safety with double walled stainless steel containment.
In May this year, the Norwegian government granted 11 new licenses for the passenger and cargo route from Bergen to Kirkenes. For the first time, these licenses have been split between two operators. Havila, a new entrant, won four of thee 11 licenses. Since its establishment in 1884, the route has ensured that coastal Norway is connected, with 34 ports seeing daily ship calls. The new agreement will come into effect in January 2021, and a key requirement from the Ministry of Transportation has been to decrease CO2 emissions.
Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/25102018/norwegian-ship-owning-company-orders-four-newbuild-ro-pax-vessels/
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