Volstad newbuild has permanent magnet tunnel thruster

Rolls-Royce permanent magnet tunnel-thrusters being delivered to Volstad Shipping AS

MARCH 28, 2014 — A Subsea IMR and Construction Vessel under construction for Ålesund, Norway, headquartered Volstad Shipping AS will be the first commercial vessel to be supplied with Rolls-Royce tunnel thrusters powered by permanent magnet (PM) technology.

The TT-PM permanent magnet tunnel thruster is a new addition to the Rolls-Royce family of thrusters, building on a completely new approach to thruster design and motor integration. The TT-PM meets the strictest requirements for performance, noise and vibration.

The thrusters are part of a package of advanced ship equipment that Rolls-Royce will supply for the vessel, which is currently being built at the Tersan Shipyard in Turkey for delivery in the second half of 2015.

The contract is worth approximately £13.5 million to Rolls-Royce and in addition to the tunnel thrusters includes the new Unified Bridge, azimuth thrusters, engines, dynamic positioning, automation, navigation, drives, switchboards and electric motors.

“Volstad Shipping will receive a vessel that incorporates innovative technology from the control center at the top with the Unified Bridge, down to the very latest thruster technology below the waterline,” says John Knudsen, Rolls-Royce, President Offshore. “Our offshore team has worked closely with the shipowner and designer to develop the advanced equipment and features on this vessel.”

The 125 m vessel is being built to Skipsteknisk ST-259 design and is ice classed for operations in Arctic waters.