Rolls-Royce and Drydocks World Dubai to cooperate on LNG tug solutions for Middle East market
Rolls-Royce plc has signed a memorandum of understanding with Drydocks World Dubai to provide systems for Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) powered tugs for the Middle East market. The tugs, to be designed by the Drydocks World in-house design team, will incorporate a range of power and propulsion equipment from Rolls-Royce, including Bergen medium speed gas engines, said in the company's press release.
The memorandum of understanding was recently signed by Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World, and Neil Gilliver, Rolls-Royce, President – Merchant, in Dubai.
Neil Gilliver, Rolls-Royce, President – Merchant said: "We are pleased to be working with Drydocks World to integrate highly efficient LNG power and propulsion systems into LNG powered tugs for the Middle East market. This cooperation further demonstrates our commitment to helping customers improve their operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact. We look forward to working with Drydocks World and other partners as we develop these opportunities further."
Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World, said: "We are at the threshold of a new era in environment management for maritime sustainable development. Drydocks World seeks to take a leadership role in implementing green technology solutions and is developing a new product, the 'Green Tug,' which is an LNG powered tug that will comply with new emission control regulations."
Rolls-Royce is a leader in the development of LNG technology for the marine industry. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year approved for sale in the U.S. market the latest state-of-the art ECA Tier 3 compliant Rolls-Royce [Bergen C26:33] marine gas engines, which are ideal for tug propulsion. They are designed to improve fuel efficiency, dramatically cut harmful methane emissions and meet strict international environmental standards set to take effect in 2016.
The EPA Certificate of Conformity has been issued for the C-engine range from Rolls-Royce, whose engines are already in operation on several car and coastal ferries. The world's first LNG powered cargo ship, also powered by Rolls-Royce, entered service in Norway last year.
Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 300 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in more than 80 countries.
Annual underlying revenue was £12.2 billion in 2012, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at £60.1 billion at 31 December 2012, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
Rolls-Royce employs over 45,000 people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 14,000 of these employees are engineers.
In 2012, Rolls-Royce invested £919 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.