New Zealand Navy tanker to feature Rolls Royce’s wave-piercing hull form

New Zealand Navy’s new 23,000t Polar-class logistics support vessel, which will replace the 30-year-old tanker HMNZS Endeavour, will become the first naval vessel to feature Rolls-Royce’s Environship leadge bow, the company announced September 20.

Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to provide a concept design based on the Rolls-Royce Environship leadge bow.

HHI will undertake detailed design and build the vessel as part of the NZDF’s Maritime Sustainment Capability (MSC) project, using the Rolls-Royce Environship concept design under licence.

The vessel design will be modified to meet NZDF requirements for a heavily winterized, ice–strengthened vessel capable of carrying out operations in a challenging Antarctic environment.

In addition to design, the Rolls-Royce scope of supply includes a Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel (CODLAD) propulsion plant based on twin Bergen main engines. These will each drive, via reduction gears, a controllable pitch propeller. Rolls-Royce will also supply the propeller shafts.

Electrical power will be supplied by Rolls-Royce in the form of four MTU gensets from Rolls-Royce Power Systems, which will also provide power to the Rolls-Royce supplied switchboards, motors, drives, bow thruster and the electric RAS/FAS system, which allows for simpler and quieter replenishment/fuelling-at-sea operations. Rotary vane steering gear and rudders form part of a stand-alone package, the company said.

Rolls-Royce programme executive – Asia, Ben Dunscombe, added that propellers and the main and auxiliary engines would have to be slightly larger to meet the vessel’s high winterisation and Polar Code 6 requirements.

Commenting on the contract, Sam Cameron, Rolls-Royce, senior vice president sales and business development – naval, said: “We see significant value in the Environship concept in the naval sector. Winning this milestone contract is of considerable importance to our naval ship design offering, which is new to Rolls-Royce.

“We have worked with HHI on a number of vessels, but this the first project in which we will collaborate on the conceptual design requirement. We look forward to working with HHI in delivering the MSC Support Ship and providing through-life support to the New Zealand Navy.”