Rolls-Royce Power Systems will equip three 42-metre high-speed ferries operating between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China, with MTU 2000 diesel engines and Kamewa waterjet propulsion units. The ferries will be built at the Brødrene Aa shipyard in Norway and are scheduled for delivery by June 2019.
The combination of the MTU 2000 diesel engines and Kamewa waterjets is claimed to offer the highest efficiency and lowest cost of ownership in the fast ferry propulsion market.
“With vessels operating long hours at speeds of 40 knots you really capitalise on the benefits of carbon fibre construction. Lighter vessels render lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions,” said Tor Øyvin Aa, CEO of Brødrene Aa. “The light weight and high-power capabilities of the Kamewa steel series waterjets, along with the proven power output and reliability of MTU engines in fast ferries, makes Rolls-Royce a logical choice for this type of vessel. However, the shipowners as always took the final decision about the main components, including the main engines and the waterjets.”
The new ferries will be operated by Zhongshan-Hong Kong Passenger Shipping Co-op Co Ltd. Two of them will seat up to 300 passengers and operate at a maximum speed of 40 knots, featuring a quadruple Kamewa type S56-4 waterjet installation and four MTU 12V 2000M72 engines. The third will feature a 230-passenger capacity and a maximum speed of 37 knots: it will be powered by two MTU engines 16V 2000M72, each driving a type S63-4 waterjet.
Knut Müller, Head of Marine and Governmental Business at MTU, said: “China is a very important market with great potential for us. In China and in the region around Hong Kong there are currently over one hundred high-speed ferries fitted with MTU propulsion systems in operation. We are delighted that with Brødrene Aa, with whom we have already collaborated on 25 other ferry projects, we have the opportunity once again of serving the Chinese market. High-speed ferries operate continuously at high speeds. For this reason, the engines must above all operate reliably over a long service life. MTU satisfies these demands placed on the engine with MTU’s own turbocharger technology incorporating sequential turbocharging, which provides effortless power response at low engine speeds.”
According to Tommi Viiperi, General Manager Sales at Rolls-Royce, this contract, along with the recent one with the Nordland Fylkeskommune county municipality, prove the high trust placed in Kamewa waterjets and MTU engines in both Norwegian and Chinese markets.
“The products selected and choice of materials and technologies are made for creating unchallenged performance, durability and the lowest cost of ownership. The efficiency of both steering and reversing units, together with pump performance, help owners to reduce their operational costs. The features included in our equipment are much appreciated in today’s market where there is no room for compromise on performance or efficiency. The duplex stainless-steel construction of these Kamewa waterjets offers uncompromised durability compared with competing products. The fuel savings resulting from the highly efficient pump unit, combined with the design of the steering and reversing units, aids faster and more accurate manoeuvring,” said Viiperi.
About Brødrene Aa
The Brødrene Aa yard, a world leader in fuel-efficient lightweight ferries, boasts extensive experience in composite construction, as it launched its first carbon fibre ferry back in 2002. The yard’s designs and construction techniques have been refined to meet the industry’s need for more efficient and lightweight ships, with lower emissions and reduced operating costs, without sacrificing safety and durability.
