Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with ship builder Fincantieri to supply a fully integrated propulsion system for Norway's new polar research vessel, which will operate at the North and South Poles.
The Rolls-Royce system includes gensets with a power electric system, a range of thrusters and automation and control systems.The vessel, to be named 'FF Kronprins Haakon', is a NVC 395 POLAR ordered by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. Fincantieri will carry out detailed design to allow the vessel to operate through rough ice conditions. It will be equipped to cover a wide range of marine research operations, like monitoring fishing stocks, metrological studies, sea floor sampling and mapping.
Rolls-Royce will supply 2 x Bergen B32:40L9ACD and 2 x Bergen B32:40L6ACD diesel gensets, together with a power electric system, azimuth main thrusters (of type US ARC 0.8) and Polar tunnel thrusters. A range of electrical systems will also be included.
Construction will take place at Fincantieri's integrated shipyards Riva Trigoso-Muggiano, in Italy, before undergoing final outfitting activities in Norway. The vessel is expected to be in operation from 2017.
