Rolls-Royce to Supply Podded Propulsion, Deck Machinery for QM2

Rolls-Royce has won two new contracts to supply podded propulsion systems and deck machinery for Queen Mary 2, the new luxury cruise liner to be built for Cunard Line at Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France. It has also won contracts to supply podded propulsors to three other cruise ships. The total value of these contracts is approximately $21.2 million.

Dr. Saul Lanyado, president - Marine for Rolls-Royce, said: "These contracts bring the total value of equipment orders we have won in Commercial Marine so far this year to more than $241.1 million. They are also another illustration of the wide range of products we are able to offer to the cruise and ferry industry. We have now won three contracts to supply equipment for Queen Mary 2 and we are very pleased to be playing a major part in this prestigious project."

Rolls-Royce will supply four Mermaid podded propulsion systems for Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner ever built. This will be the first four-pod installation to date and will consist of two fixed and two azimuthing pod units delivering a combined output of more than 85MW. They will provide a speed of nearly 30 knots with low noise and vibration levels and maximum maneuverability. The Mermaid units will be delivered in December 2002.

Rolls-Royce has also won a contract to supply the deck machinery for Queen Mary 2. It will supply eight double drum Rauma Brattvaag mooring winches and two separate windlasses. The winches and windlasses will be electrically driven using frequency converter drive and they will have an auto-tensioning function. The pull of the mooring winches will be 25 tons per drum and the diameter of the anchor chain will be 114 mm. All the equipment will be delivered by September 2002.

These contracts follow the announcement in March that Rolls-Royce will supply Brown Brothers stabilizers for the same vessel.

In addition, Rolls-Royce has won contracts for a further six Mermaid podded propulsion systems to be supplied for three other ships being built by Alstom Chantiers de l'Atlantique in France.

MSC Cruise, Italy's largest privately owned cruise line, is to increase its fleet with two new ships. Each of the 60,000-ton vessels will be equipped with two rotating Mermaid pod propulsion systems rated at 10 MW per unit.

The two Mermaid units for the first ship will be delivered in May 2002 and those for the second vessel in mid-2003.