Rolls-Royce power for NY ferry

Operated by New Jersey-based Seatreak, the catamaran will be able to carry up to 600 passengers between Monmouth County, New Jersey and Wall Street in less than 40 minutes at a top speed of 35 knots.

Rolls-Royce will provide four high-speed MTU diesel engines type 12V 4000 M64 from Rolls-Royce, they are EPA Tier III compliant and offer the low emissions.

“The combination of Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets and MTU high-speed diesel engines will help Seastreak transport thousands of customers every day economically, reliably and sustainably,” said Tor-Gunnar Hovig, Rolls-Royce’s senior vice president of offshore and merchant solutions.

He added: “We’re delighted that Seastreak has not only selected Rolls-Royce technology for their newest vessel but also to repower three of their existing fleet.”

The four engines will drive four Rolls-Royce Kamewa 63S4 waterjets, providing both reliability and redundancy.

Set to be known as the Commodore class, the new craft is being designed by Incat-Crowther of Sydney, Australia, and will be built at Gulf Craft, La. It is expected to be delivered in 2017.

When delivered in 2017, it will be the highest passenger capacity USCG K-class high-speed ferry in the United States.

Alongside this, three other Seastreak class vessels (Highlands, New York and New Jersey) will be upgraded and repowered with Rolls-Royce equipment over the next few years.

This will start with the Seastreak New York this winter, with plans to upgrade and repower one vessel per year each winter.