Rolls-Royce to power LNG tug

Rolls-Royce has been awarded a contract by Chinese state oil company CNOOC to power Asia’s first tug powered by liquefied natural gas.

The order is for two tugs to be built at the Zhenjiang shipyard in Jiangsu, China, with an option for an additional two vessels. The first tug is due for delivery by the end of 2014.

LNG fuelled engine

Each tug will feature a two LNG fuelled Rolls-Royce Bergen C26:33L9PG engines. The Rolls-Royce power and propulsion systems package for each tug includes a pair of Rolls-Royce US 205 CP azimuth thrusters to ensure the tugs have rapid manoeuvring, as well as strong bollard pull capabilities.

Neil Gilliver, President – Merchant, Rolls-Royce, commented: “This order is highly significant for Rolls-Royce, CNOOC, and Zhenjiang shipyard and marks a new era for tug boat propulsion technology in China, an increasingly important market for the marine industry.

LNG as marine fuel

“Rolls-Royce is proud to be selected to power Asia's first pure gas powered tug and to play a pivotal role in the state's focus on reducing emissions along the costs and inland waterways. I am convinced that with the growing popularity of LNG as a marine fuel, more operators will soon begin to opt for a cleaner, lower cost and smoke-free fuel solution to power their tugs. This order will be one of many more to come."

This order follows the successful delivery of the world's first gas powered tug, Borgøy, which is also powered by Rolls-Royce.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/19032014/rolls_royce_powers_lng_fuelled_tug_310/