Rolls-Royce Powers Chinese Fast Ferry
Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with Afai Southern Shipyard (Panyu Guangzhou) Ltd. to provide power and propulsion for a third Blue Sea Jet, fast ferry for the Zhuhai High-Speed Passenger Ferry Co., Ltd.
The catamaran ferry, which will carry 288 passengers between Zhuhai and Hong Kong, will be driven by twin MTU 16V 4000M70 engines powering Rolls-Royce Kamewa S71-4 waterjets.
The vessel is the company’s third in a series of Rolls-Royce powered catamarans to be commissioned, the first of which, Hai Qin, was delivered in February 2016. During sea trials Hai Qin reached a full load speed of 38 knots. The Hai Qin was followed into service by the Hai Jing in March 2016. The ferries are the first to be built in China with Rolls-Royce waterjets.
Liang Kaibin, Director General Manager of the Zhuhai High Speed Ferry Company, said, “We were surprised and delighted that the vessel comfortably exceeded the contracted speed of 34 knots on trial. Both our customers and ourselves value the speed, stability and maneuverability that the Rolls-Royce equipment has given the vessel.”
Richard Wang, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President, Offshore Merchant Solutions, said, “The combination of Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets and MTU high-speed diesel engines will help the Zhuhai High Speed Ferry Company transport thousands of customers quickly, economically, reliably and sustainably every day.”
Class survey and construction design is being undertaken by the Afai Technology Center. The vessel is due for delivery in September 2017.