Rolls-Royce receives order for 9 mtu Hybrid PropulsionPacks for 9 new Liberty Lines fast crafts

• New vessels are part of Liberty Lines’ sustainable blue economy strategy
• Integrated mtu hybrid propulsion systems include each: 2 mtu-16V4000M65L engines, 2 e-motors, 2 variable speed gensets, a battery system, mtu hybrid automation system
• Quiet and emission-free into port, high speed at the sea.
• mtu Hybrid PropulsionPack and SCR system significantly reduce emissions

Rolls-Royce has received an order from the Spanish shipyard Armon to supply nine mtu Hybrid PropulsionPacks for nine new ships of the leading Italian high-speed maritime passenger transport company, Liberty Lines. The contract was officially signed during the SMM international shipping exhibition in Hamburg. The vessels are scheduled to enter service between 2023 and 2026. The construction of an optional nine additional ships is planned for delivery between 2027 and 2030. The concept for the fast ferries with sustainable hybrid propulsion systems has been developed in collaboration with Liberty Lines, Armon shipyard, the Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems, the Italian ship classification society RINA and the Australian shipbuilding design company Incat Crowther.

New monohulls are part of Liberty Lines' Net Zero strategy

“With this project, we are making a sustainable investment in the renewal of our fleet, with the purpose to continue to offer high-quality services to our stakeholders and minimize environmental impact in order to achieve an emission-free future,” explained Gennaro Carlo Cotella, Chief Executive Officer at Liberty Lines. “The majority of our fleet has already been successfully operating with mtu engines for decades. We are convinced we made the right choice with Rolls-Royce for the supply of the innovative mtu hybrid solutions for the renewal of our fleet on the way towards carbon neutrality.”

Quiet and emission-free into port, high performance at sea

The ships will be equipped with Rolls-Royce integrated mtu hybrid propulsion systems, each comprising two mtu 16-cylinder Series 4000M65L engines, two gearboxes, two e-motors and electric systems, two variable-speed gensets, a battery system, switchboard and electrical power management system, and an mtu hybrid automation system, which monitors and controls not only the hybrid propulsion system, but also various ship area systems. The vessels will use different operating modes as needed: Purely electric, they can enter and leave ports quietly and with zero emissions at a speed of eight knots; in hybrid mode they can reach high speed in cruise mode when traveling across the sea whilst simultaneously charging the batteries by the two main engines and eliminating the need to operate the gensets for hotel load. During longer stops the batteries are charged by means of the shore power supply. Liberty Lines will have the ability to continually remotely monitor the status of the complete propulsion system via the mtu remote monitoring system.

mtu Hybrid PropulsionPack and SCR system significantly reduce emissions

The nine mtu Hybrid PropulsionPacks with Series 4000M65L engines will have significantly reduced exhaust particulate emissions compared to Liberty Lines’ currently operating engines, and the mtu SCR exhaust aftertreatment systems, will also greatly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. On a kW power output basis, the engines alone in the new hybrid propulsion system will reduce CO2 emissions by 8 percent, soot emissions by 62 percent and NOx emissions by 83 percent compared to the fleet's current propulsion systems. The new vessels will meet the IMO Tier III emissions standard, a very strict regulation that is not yet in force in the Mediterranean.

“We are very proud to have been awarded the contract to build these environmentally friendly high-speed vessels for Liberty Lines and thank Armon and Liberty Lines for their confidence in our expertise,” said Denise Kurtulus, Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “This project strengthens our long-standing partnership with Liberty Lines and fits perfectly with our own Net Zero at Power Systems sustainability program. As the supplier of the fully integrated hybrid solution with exhaust aftertreatment, we are honored to support Liberty Lines in their climate protection strategy.”

Learn more about sustainable mtu solutions for shipping in our special: Pioneering the Journey to Net Zero  

Complete SMM press kit for download

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 (excluding product testing) and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
2. Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs around 9,000 people. The product portfolio includes mtu-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, power generation, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry as well as diesel and gas systems and battery containers for mission critical, standby and continuous power, combined generation of heat and power, and microgrids and is intensively engaged in the development of climate-neutral solutions.
3. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
4. Annual underlying revenue was £10.95 billion in 2021, underlying operating profit was £414m and we invested £1.18 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.
5. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE:RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69).