Ro-ros and cruise ship to get energy-saving system

The first contract covers installation on four Finnlines ro-ro ships, with all equipment to be delivered in 2014, in an order valued at £3.8 million. Finnlines is part of the Grimaldi Group, which has over three years of experience with Rolls-Royce on a series of projects to re-blade propellers to improve efficiency. The efficiency gains and fuel saving benefits created by these projects has led to this latest contract to equip four Finnlines vessels. Finnlines, wished to maximise the efficiency of its vessels while also ensuring the new engine configuration maintained the speeds required on its routes.

Typical fuel savings for Promas Lite range from 5% to 15% per cent, depending on the type of operation and the performance of the existing propeller. For example, the total efficiency improvement in the case of Nordlink, one of the Finnline vessels, is predicted to range from 19% to 21% at 20 knots with an estimated payback period of two years. The other three vessels have a speed guarantee.

Andrew Marsh, Rolls-Royce, president – services said: “We are delighted to work together with Finnlines to bring the first installation of Promas Lite to the Baltic Sea. Not only will Finnlines achieve a reduction in fuel consumption but also in NOx emissions, helping the company realise its environmental ambitions.”

Emanuele Grimaldi, President and CEO, Finnlines Plc said: “Environmental compliance and cost efficient operations are key factors in the success of 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.”

The other Promas Lite order is for Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo, the first vessel in South East Asia to be equipped with the system. Star Cruises subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line has previously installed Promas Lite on Norwegian Spirit in 2011, and Rolls-Royce says that the resulting efficiency gains and fuel saving benefits led to this subsequent order. A cruise ship can expect to achieve around £800,000 annually in fuel savings with a corresponding CO2 emission reduction of around 4,000 tonnes per year by converting to Promas Lite. The estimated payback period is two years.

Mr Marsh said: “We highly appreciate the trust given to us by Star Cruises through this second order. As Asia Pacific’s leading cruise operator, they recognise that using the Promas Lite solution will substantially reduce emissions and the operating costs of SuperStar Virgo.”

Fleet Captain Gustaf Gronberg, senior vice president of marine operations & newbuilding, Star Cruises, said: “The cruise industry is dependent on reliable, innovative technologies which are able to meet stricter environmental regulations and achieve return on investment quickly. Based on our previous positive experience with Rolls-Royce, we are confident that this upgrade will enable us to significantly reduce our fuel consumption and environmental impact.”