Rolls-Royce mtu engines number one for fast ferries

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For more than 50 years, our Rolls-Royce mtu diesel engines have been the solution of choice for fast ferry operators around the world.

Fast ferries, seagoing passenger vessels that operate at 25 knots or more, require high power density, delivering maximum power with the lowest possible weight, in order to maximise propulsion efficiency.

Just like ferry operators, our engines have to cope with high demands, working hard for extended time periods, reliably and durably, in order to keep passengers moving between A and B. Today, the coastlines and marine environments where they operate are also more protected than ever, pushing demand for cleaner and more efficient solutions.

No other brand is aboard as many fast ferries

“Over 110 years ago, mtu started out making extremely lightweight, powerful and reliable engines for Zeppelin airships,” explains Phil Kordic, Marine Sales Manager at Rolls-Royce. “Those unique capabilities built a core heritage that has helped make our marine engines what they are today. No other brand is aboard as many fast ferries.”

Covering a power range of 720 kW up to 9,100 kW, our mtu combustion engines for fast ferries have been ensuring the smooth operation of our customers for decades. Now, there are around 850 fast ferries currently in operation which are powered by our engines worldwide.

“It starts with having the right product,” continues Phil. “But making sure that the customer is satisfied throughout the engine’s entire lifecycle is also what has led to our success.”

For over ten years, our mtu engines have been the “go-to” choice in powering high-speed vessels for Penguin Shipyard International in Singapore. Now, the shipbuilder has chosen Rolls-Royce once again to power two new fast ferries, delivering more than 10,000 kW of power and significantly reducing travel time for up to 250 passengers and 25 cars per trip. James Tham, Managing Director of Penguin International Limited explains “Rolls-Royce is a dependable partner in good times and bad. They provide excellent customer experience for each project.”

Delivering a lifetime of reliability

The global ferry industry transports billions of people every year, with fast ferries running back and forth on tourist and commuter routes multiple times a day. To ensure reliability, ferry operators need certainty that their engines will stay the course.

At Rolls-Royce, our aftersales services work alongside our technologies to deliver that certainty, optimising maintenance and keeping the engine’s lifecycle costs low. Our customers can rely on the hundreds of service partners we have in more than 1,200 locations around the world.

Some of our fast ferry engines maintain TBOs (time between overhauls) of more than 20,000 running hours, and when the time comes, our reman (factory remanufactured) engines can help minimise downtime with the same high standards of performance, service life and quality as new mtu products.

Protecting our oceans without compromising performance

Our reman services are just one of the ways we’re working to reduce our impact on the planet, minimising the raw materials and energy used to produce new parts, and significantly reducing waste and CO2 emissions.

Ferry operators also face strict regulations around the emissions their operations generate in coastal waters. To support them, many of our combustion engines are already fully approved to run on sustainable and alternative fuels like HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), reducing emissions by up to 90% in some cases. Our exhaust gas aftertreatment systems can also help achieve extremely low nitrogen oxide emissions.

In Italy, leading maritime passenger transport company, Liberty Lines has commissioned the construction of nine new high-speed vessels that will be powered by our mtu hybrid propulsion systems, including two mtu-16V4000M65L engines, delivering quiet and emissions-free operation into port and high performance at sea. Having used mtu engines for decades, the operator is convinced our technologies are the right choice for their journey to carbon neutrality.

Supporting a global network of fast ferry operators

Around the world, the number of different fast ferry operators we power has grown to more than 300. From the San Franciscan Bay Area to the Sea of Japan, we’re delivering the continued performance and endurance that customers come back to.