New European High Speed Cargo Vessel from IZAR and Rolls-Royce

Thursday, 26 September 2002

Spanish shipbuilder and designer IZAR and Rolls-Royce today announced plans for a new European High Speed Cargo Vessel as a cost-effective short-sea shipping alternative to road transport in Europe.

The monohull EHSCV is powered by two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines and Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets.

The baseline design enables 124 trailers to be carried at a service speed of 37 knots and is economically competitive with road transport on routes above 300 nautical miles.

The design meets the needs of ship owners wishing to develop fleet plans in line with the European Union's Marco Polo programme, which is designed to give financial support to projects which improve the environmental performance of Europe's freight transport system.

Subsidies, in the form of start-up aid, are intended to be available for projects involving two or more member states. The aid can be additional to member state support.

The MT30, which boasts a power rating of 36MW, is cost-effective and efficient compared to all existing marine gas turbines above 25MW. It has 80 per cent commonality with the Trent 800 aero engine which has completed more than two million flying hours since it entered service in 1996.

Jose Ramon Lopez, IZAR Director for Innovation, said: "We believe there is a strong market for this ship, which offers a cost-effective solution to an urgent European transport issue."

Saul Lanyado, Rolls-Royce President - Marine, said: "The MT30 brings leading-edge, proven, aero gas turbine technology to the marine marketplace. Its modular construction combines reliability with maintainability."