Rolls-Royce unveils first in new line of patrol craft

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 — Rolls-Royce unveiled a new design of maritime patrol craft at a defense event held in London this week.

The first of a “protection vessel family” of designs, the 55-m craft features a range of equipment from Rolls-Royce (stabilisers, thrusters, steering gear, fixed pitch propellers) and MTU (diesels, diesel generators, Callosum IPMS), offering a cost-effective design that can be tailored to mission requirements.

The new vessel is designed for patrol, search and rescue and interception duties. A 90-m version will be on offer by the end of the year, with a 75-m design following in 2014.

Garry Mills, Rolls-Royce, Chief of Naval Ship Design, said: “Coastal protection and offshore patrol vessels is a growing sector and this new design offers multi-purpose capability, incorporating core design elements that are replicated across the family of vessels.

“Our customers often face short timescales in the procurement of this type of craft, and having a scalable, cost effective offering is essential.

“There is a growing trend of commercial marine technology crossing into naval markets as governments seek cost reduction through proven capability. Naval vessels generally comprise many disparate and complex technologies, and that’s what Rolls-Royce, with its broad product base, is good at: integrating bespoke whole-ship systems to minimize program risk.”