Rolls-Royce Propulsion for Polar Research Vessel

Rolls-Royce informs it has been awarded a contract by shipbuilder Fincantieri to supply a fully integrated propulsion system for Norway’s new Polar Research Vessel, which will carry out environmental research at the North and South Poles. 

The Rolls-Royce system includes gensets with a power electric system, a range of thrusters and automation and control systems. 

The vessel, to be named FF Kronprins Haakon, is a NVC 395 POLAR design from Rolls-Royce ordered by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. Detailed design will be carried out by Fincantieri. It is designed to operate through rough ice conditions, and will be equipped to cover a wide range of marine research operations, such as monitoring fishing stocks, metrological studies, sea floor sampling and mapping. 

Rolls-Royce will supply two Bergen B32:40L9ACD and two Bergen B32:40L6ACD diesel gensets, together with a power electric system, azimuth main thrusters (of type US ARC 0.8) and Polar tunnel thrusters. A range of electrical systems will also be included. 

Construction will take place at Fincantieri’s Integrated Shipyards Riva Trigoso-Muggiano, in Italy, before undergoing final outfitting activities in Norway. 

The vessel is expected to be in operation from 2017.