Chinese offshore order for Rolls-Royce

The two UT 771WP platform supply vessels will be the first vessels in Asia to feature Rolls-Royce’s wave piercing bow design, intended to cut through waves in rough seas, enabling a more constant speed, lower fuel consumption and increased on-board safety.

Chellsea already operates two UT ships, and the newbuilds will be in addition to these. The Rolls-Royce scope of supply includes ship design, MTU engines, propulsion system, electrical power system, bulk handling system, deck machinery, automation and control system and DP equipment. The two vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2015. The contract includes an option for additional four vessels.

Anders Almestad, Rolls-Royce, president, offshore, said: “This new design has been developed in cooperation between Rolls-Royce, the ship owner and the yard. Their viewpoint has been vital to our design team in this project. We are very pleased that Cosco have confidence in us and introduced us to another new customer. We look forward to building a fruitful relationship with Chellsea going forward.”

Rolls-Royce says that currently there are 22 UT-design vessels under construction in China, including four at the Cosco Guangdong yard and four more at Cosco Zhoushan.