Series 8000 – a legacy of excellence

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For 25 years, the mtu Series 8000 engine has defined what innovation can achieve in the marine industry.

Renowned for its unmatched performance and reliability, it powers a wide array of vessels from high-speed ferries and naval ships to luxury yachts. Purpose-built to meet the rigorous demands of maritime operations, this power-dense solution delivers exceptional output and trusted dependability.

Over the past quarter-century, the Series 8000 has built upon its legacy of excellence to become a future-ready solution that supports the maritime energy transition.

25 years of excellence

First introduced at the world’s largest shipbuilding fair in 2000, our 20-cylinder mtu Series 8000 engine quickly set new standards in marine propulsion. Now available in both 20V and 16V configurations, it continues to lead the way in large engine performance.

With over 350 engines in service and more than three million operating hours amassed, the Series 8000 has consistently demonstrated its ability to move the world’s largest vessels powerfully and reliably.

Power and performance

Delivering power outputs of up to 10,000 kilowatts, the Series 8000 is engineered for demanding maritime environments, supporting naval fleets and coastguards to fast ferries and private yachts.

Operators choose the Series 8000 for its rapid acceleration, low operating costs and ease of maintenance, alongside its outstanding power-to-weight ratio and proven capability in even the harshest sea conditions. Whatever the application, the Series 8000 is the engine of choice for customers who require speed, strength and efficiency.

Four 20-cylinder Series 8000 engines are installed in the high-speed ferry to be operated by the Virtu Ferries company. The vessel is 110 m in length and can accommodate 900 passengers plus crew and 167 vehicles on 490 truck lane metres. It is used on the Malta-Sicily route that it operates daily throughout the year.

The 126.7 metre fast ferry Benchijigua Express from the Spanish company Fred Olsen links the three Canary Islands of Tenerife, La Gomera and La Palma. It’s four 20V 8000 mtu engines provide an output of 32,800 kW.

20-cylinder mtu Series 8000 engines will power the three new Miecznik-class frigates for the Polish Navy.

Confidence in reliability

Known for its durability even in extreme environments, the Series 8000 can in some cases deliver up to 96,000 hours of operation between overhauls.

Its guaranteed long service intervals and easy handling in maintenance and repair mean our customers can have confidence in its dependability and focus on what they do best, whether that’s military operations like protecting naval bases and patrolling coastal areas, or ensuring the timely transport of passengers. With its ability for unlimited low load operation, the Series 8000 has become a benchmark within the marine world.

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Sustainable by design

At Rolls-Royce, we are committed to supporting our customers with solutions to empower them through the energy transition. Improving the efficiency and future-readiness of our technologies is vital to continuing our progress.

Our Series 8000 engine is already approved for use with the renewable fuel Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) without needing any modifications. The use of HVO could not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the engine’s lifecycle by up to 90 percent, but will enable customers to keep using our technologies for years to come without having to adapt or replace equipment – saving time, costs and waste.

The Series 8000 also meets the stringent IMO Tier III emissions standards through the implementation of selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The SCR system cuts nitrogen oxide emissions by 75 percent compared to the IMO II limits by controlling and optimising the exhaust gas aftertreatment system – further underscoring our dedication to reducing the environmental impact of our engines.

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