Rolls-Royce to supply equipment for major offshore vessel upgrade
Friday, 5 February 2010Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has received an order worth over US$20 million to supply diesel generator sets and thrusters to Houston-based offshore engineering and construction company J. Ray McDermott.
The order, which includes six underwater mountable azimuth thrusters and four Bergen generator sets, is being supplied as part of a major upgrade to the customer’s specialist offshore vessel, Derrick Barge 50 (DB50). The heavy-lift derrick and pipe laying vessel is based in the Gulf of Mexico.
Jarle Hessen, Rolls-Royce Sales Manager E&P Propulsion said: “We have extensive experience in offshore vessel design and equipment systems and our thrusters and engines are well-proven in the offshore market. With our new marine service centre in Galveston, Texas, we have also strengthened our customer support capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico area. This latest contract demonstrates customer confidence in our technology and service.”
John Nesser, J. Ray McDermott Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said: “These improvements, along with other modifications to the ship’s systems over the three year upgrade programme, will add tremendous value to the vessel’s capabilities, which will ultimately prove beneficial to our customers’ deepwater projects.”
The six thrusters are each capable of providing 44 tonnes of thrust and have a variable frequency electric motor drive and a fixed pitch propeller. They will interface with the vessel’s dynamic positioning system to significantly increase the station-keeping capability of the vessel, allowing it to operate in more severe weather conditions. The new diesel-engine generator sets provide 19.2 megawatts and, with the new thrusters, provide increased propulsion and electrical power to DB50.
DB50 is capable of lifting loads of up to 4,400 tonnes and laying pipe up to 20 inches in diameter in more than 9,000 feet of water.
In March 2009, Rolls-Royce opened a new facility in Galveston, Texas. Encompassing 40,000 square feet, the new Rolls-Royce Marine service centre at Galveston provides state-of-the-art repair and overhaul expertise in support of the company’s entire portfolio of marine products to customers throughout the Gulf of Mexico region. In the past year Rolls-Royce has strengthened its global marine services network, opening six new service centre facilities, in North America, South America, Europe and the Middle East.
- Rolls-Royce is a global business providing and supplying integrated power systems for use on land, at sea and in the air. The company has established strong positions in four global markets - civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy.
- The Rolls-Royce Group has a broad customer base including more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 main customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries. With facilities in 50 countries, Rolls-Royce employs more than 38,000 people worldwide and has businesses headquartered in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia, Singapore and China. This global presence allows the Group to access long-term international growth opportunities.
- Rolls-Royce continues to invest in core technologies, products, people and capabilities with the objective of broadening and strengthening the product and service portfolio, improving efficiency and enhancing the environmental performance of its products.
- In 2008, Rolls-Royce and its partners invested £885 million on research and development, two-thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental aspects of its products, in particular the reduction of emissions.
- The Marine business of Rolls-Royce employs 8,000 people in 34 countries with the main manufacturing centres being in the UK, the Nordic countries, the United States and increasingly Asia.
- Rolls-Royce is a world leader in marine solutions, providing products, service and expertise to more than 30,000 vessels in the offshore, merchant, naval surface and submarine markets. It designs ships and its product range includes propulsion systems featuring diesel engines and gas turbines, propellers, thrusters and water jets. Rolls-Royce also provides manoeuvring and stabilising systems and deck machinery.
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