Rolls-Royce to power Alaskan ferries

The two ferries will be built by Vigor Shipyards in Ketchikan, Alaska and will feature Rolls-Royce Promas propulsion systems with controllable pitch propellers and rudders, as well as Rolls-Royce technology including reduction gearboxes, tunnel thrusters and steering gears.

Each ferry will be 280ft long, seat up to 300 passengers and carry more than 50 standard vehicles. The vessels will feature fully enclosed car decks with bow and stern doors for quicker loading and unloading.

Tor-Gunnar Hovig, senior vice president Commercial Marine, North America, Rolls-Royce, said: “This contract represents the first time a ferry operator in North America will utilise our Promas integrated propeller and rudder system, which improves the propulsion performance by means of increasing the efficiency, resulting in lower fuel consumption compared to traditional systems.

“To date, more than 60 new build ships feature Promas with close to 40 already retrofitted with the system.”