Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has announced that Island Offshore will further expand its fleet of Rolls-Royce UT776 platform supply vessels (PSV) with more of the same type, with one major difference – the newly ordered vessels will use LNG for fuel. These vessels will be the first LNG powered UT vessels designed and powered by Rolls-Royce. The latest order by Island Offshore is for two PSVs . At present they have four of the UT 776 supply vessels in service and two more under construction.

The vessels will be built by STX Offshore Norway at its Brevik yard, which has previously built a number of vessels for the ship-owner.

“We are extremely happy with the performance of these UT vessels, as are our clients,” said Håvard Ulstein, Managing Director of Island Offshore in Ulsteinvik, Norway. “A very important area for Island Offshore is reduction in fuel consumption. With the UT 776, the favourable hull lines contribute to a very low consumption rate over a wide range of operating draughts. We believe that the most significant contribution to reducing emissions is to reduce fuel consumption for a given amount of work done. Going for LNG fuel is a logical step in reducing emissions even further.”

Rolls-Royce has worked for several years developing designs and systems for offshore vessels using LNG as fuel.

“Now that more gas infrastructure is in place, it is realistic for customers to select this fuel and these designs and systems” commented Atle Gaasø, General Manager Sales for Offshore service vessels. “We are very happy to be working with Island Offshore, as they are a very forward-thinking company with a strong focus on efficiency and the environment, as they have already shown with their pioneering Rolls-Royce designed well intervention vessels.”

Source: http://www.rolls-royce.com/marine/news/2010/27_8_2010_ut-design_to_use_lng_fuel.jsp