Rolls-Royce and the environment

Technology integration for marine propulsion and power systems

In the marine sector Rolls-Royce offers ship design skills and the ability to integrate power, propulsion and motion control systems which can benefit the environment.

Our 30 years of ship design experience have been applied primarily to offshore support vessels. These skills have also been used to meet current and future demand for coastal protection vessels for coastguards and other maritime agencies and for vessels to deal with major incidents such as oil spills.

By operating at a systems integration level,
Rolls-Royce can take a 'whole ship' approach which delivers significant improvements in fuel efficiency.

These benefits can also be realised by integrating electric drive systems and propellers into a single unit, using permanent magnet motors to eliminate mechanical drives.

Innovative systems

The Group is seeking to develop highly innovative propulsion systems. As part of Vision 10, further improvements are being sought in our high-efficiency diesel and gas fuelled reciprocating engines to reduce already low emissions of NOx and SOx. Low emission fuel cell systems are also being explored. Rolls-Royce is actively involved in addressing the challenges of installing and operating these advanced electrical generation plants in ships and is working with shipbuilders, operators and the classification authorities through a European Commission-funded programme, FELICITAS.

As part of a Vision 20 programme, we are exploring one of the most efficient hydrodynamic systems in the world - that of the fish, and in particular the tuna. A propulsion system based on the motion of the fishtail poses enormous engineering challenges in structural design, materials, weight and actuation.