Rolls-Royce Marine - Marine Propulsion Systems, Gas Turbines, Pitch Propellers and Azimuth Thrusters

Rolls-Royce is a global leader in marine propulsion, engineering, hydrodynamics and systems integration. It offers a broad spectrum of products and systems across the offshore market.

For the offshore exploration and production market the portfolio includes gas turbines on rigs or platforms for power generation or gas compression, azimuth thrusters for propulsion and positioning of semisubmersible rigs, drillships and FPSO, diesel engines for power generation, rig and platform mooring machinery, and control systems and automation.

Offshore equipment and systems

Rolls-Royce can provide:

• Complete vessel designs and integrated equipment packages
• Diesel engines
• Gas engines
• Mechanical, electrical and hybrid propulsion systems
• CP propellers and shaftlines
• Reduction gearboxes
• Azimuth thrusters for main propulsion or dynamic positioning
• Tunnel thrusters
• Flap rudders
• Steering gear
• Deck machinery, including towing / anchorhandling winches, capstans, tugger winches, towing pins, shark jaws, special cranes for safer deck operations, an automated sea fastening system, and mooring winches
• Dynamic positioning

Marine propulsion systems

Rolls-Royce is a global leader in design and manufacture of marine propulsion systems. These range from individual items of equipment such as propellers, azimuth thrusters or engines, to complete integrated ship systems including controls and condition monitoring.

Rolls-Royce provides power for offshore installations in the form of gas turbines and diesel engines for electric power generation, and gas turbines for gas compression systems.

A speciality is very large azimuth thrusters for propelling and positioning semisubmersible rigs and drillships. These units can be installed and dismounted underwater with the vessel afloat, thus simplifiyng new construction and through-life maintenance.

Marine engines and gas turbines

Rolls-Royce can provide medium-speed diesels in the Bergen range for distillate and heavy fuel, with powers up to 8,000kW. These engines can be supplied for mechanical transmission or as generator sets.

Rolls-Royce's gas engines that use LNG as fuel have unit powers up to approximately 7,000kW. These gas engines use the proven Rolls-Royce lean burn combustion technology to provide high output with low fuel consumption and much reduced CO2, NOx and particulates emissions compared with liquid fuel engines. They are for mechanical drive or as gensets.

Rolls-Royce marine engines meet IMO NOx and Clean Design class requirements without additional off-engine exhaust treatment.

Fixed pitch propellers and marine gearboxes

Rolls-Royce offers fixed pitch propellers up to 10m diameter, as well as controllable pitch propellers in nickel aluminium bronze or stainless steel for all applications including highest ice class.

Rolls-Royce also offers single input, single output marine reduction gears with a wide choice of torques, ratios and shaft offsets. Many power take-off options are available.

Thrusters for propulsion and manoeuvring

Rolls-Royce has a range of thruster types covering a broad spectrum of applications, including main propulsion of vessels of all speeds up to approximately 25 knots, manoeuvring and dynamic positioning.

Azimuth thrusters – 360° steerable, mechanical or electric drive

Rolls-Royce manufactures conventional azimuth thrusters with pushing propellers, open water or nozzle, CP or FP propellers.

• Azipull thrusters with streamlined underwater unit and pulling propeller, CP or FP
• Contaz with contrarotating propellers
• Underwater mountable azimuth thrusters
• Swing up and vertically retractable azimuth thrusters
• Combined azimuth and tunnel thrusters
• Tunnel thrusters with FP or CP propellers

Offshore support vessels for supply and service

UT-series offshore vessels from Rolls-Royce have shaped the supply and service industry for more than 30 years. The UT concept covers not only the ship design, but also integrated packages of all the main systems and equipment, so that UT-series vessels can be built with confidence by shipyards around the world.

Offshore support vessels have long been a speciality. The UT-series support vessels have built up a world reputation for effectiveness, with more than 600 vessels in service or on order, ranging from platform supply and anchor handlers to specialised well intervention and subsea construction vessels.

In addition to complete designs and integrated systems for UT-series vessels, Rolls-Royce provides marine equipment to the world's shipbuilders for incorporation in other vessels.

Rolls-Royce has a worldwide aftersales support and service system, with experienced service engineers and technicians at key locations. Since Rolls-Royce marine equipment has a very long service life, many older items of equipment can be upgraded during overhaul.

The product range has grown by development and acquisition, and many legacy brands are supported, including Aquamaster, Liaaen, Peilo Teknikk, Normo, Norwinch, Ulstein Propeller and Hinze.