By
Rebecca Gibson |
Rolls-Royce is to install its Promas Lite propulsion system on four Finnlines ships between October and December this year.
Marking the first time the system has been installed on vessels sailing in the Baltic Sea, the £3.8 million contract will help the Finnish ferry operator to maiximise efficiency and reduce fuel emissions.
“We are delighted to work together with Finnlines to bring the first installation of Promas Lite to the Baltic Sea,” said Andrew Marsh, president of services at Rolls-Royce. “Not only will Finnlines achieve a reduction in fuel consumption but also in nitrogen oxide emissions, helping the company realise its environmental ambitions.”
Designed to be retrofitted to older ships, Promas Lite is an integrated propeller and rudder system that enhances operational efficiency to increase fuel savings by around 5-15%. By installing Promas Lite, Finnlines aims to maximise the efficiency of its vessels, while also ensuring the new engine configuration is able to maintain the speeds required on its routes.
The operator expects to improve the efficiency of one of its vessels – Nordlink – by 19-21% at when she is sailing at a speed of 20 knots, giving the operator an estimated payback period of two years. The three other vessels have a speed guarantee.
“Environmental compliance and cost efficient operations are key factors in the success of Finnlines,” said Emanuele Grimaldi, president and CEO, Finnlines. “The installation of the Promas Lite systems on our modern ro-ro vessels is a major step in the implementation of our strategy. The extensive experience that Rolls-Royce has in this area, together with the retrofit services the company can provide, will greatly help us during the engineering and installation phases of this programme.”