Rolls-Royce adds pod drives to mtu yacht offering

The long-standing partnership will now include pod propulsion packages in the power range up to 1,250 kW (1,700 hp) and later up to 1,470 kW (2,000 hp), based on mtu Series 2000 engines and ZF’s POD 4600.

“Our strategic goal is to offer our customers integrated, highly efficient solutions in the yacht market – from bridge to propeller,” explained Denise Kurtulus, vice president global marine at the Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems.

“This includes our bridge solutions, automation and crew assistance systems, mtu engines, mtu hybrid systems, and now pod drives.”

The new systems will be offered for series-production yachts up to around 30 metres in length with a top speed of up to 32 knots, and for workboats such as crew transfer vessels.

New projects are being developed in close cooperation between Rolls-Royce with its Italian-based Yacht Competence Centre, ZF and yacht manufacturers. In the future, Rolls-Royce will supply the complete propulsion package to the customer.

“We know that shipbuilders around the world count on ZF to bring performance, efficiency, and reliability to a growing variety of vessels,” said Federico Decio, head of business unit Marine & Special Driveline Technology at ZF. “And that’s exactly what we have achieved with the new ZF POD Propulsion 4600 System.”