PRESS RELEASE
Corporate
Fred Olsen selects mtu Diesel Engines for New Trimaran
Posted on November 14, 2003
The new fast ferry of the Spanish ferry operator Fred Olsen will be driven by four 20V 8000 engines from MTU Friedrichshafen.
Santa Cruz - The new fast ferry of the Spanish ferry operator Fred Olsen will be driven by four 20V 8000 engines from MTU Friedrichshafen. The 126-meter long trimaran will be constructed at the Austal shipyard in Australia. "This trimaran is the largest fast ferry to be ordered worldwide since the late 1990s", announced Bob McKinnon, Managing Director of Austal.
Delivery is expected to take place in the second half of 2004. The ferry will accommodate 1,350 passengers, over 340 cars and over 400 lane meters. It will travel on routes between the Canary Islands.
"In addition to the smooth handling of the new ferry in rough seas, we felt it was also important to maintain the high speed in order to offer our customers a reliable timetable. We were therefore looking for higher propulsion power without having to change over to gas turbine technology", explained Fred Olsen Junior, Executive Chairman of Fred Olsen S.A. The ferry operator thus opted for the four 20-cylinder engines of the mtu 8000 series. They provide a total power of 32,800 kW, which can be increased as the transport volume grows on the routes planned. The power is transmitted via water jets. The ferry can thus achieve a service speed of over 40 knots. In addition to the main drive systems, mtu is also supplying four on-board generator sets based on 8-cylinder engines of the 2000 series each with 385 kW and a comprehensive service package. "The fact that Fred Olsen chose mtu emphasizes the operator's confidence in our products and services", said Peter Grosch, Executive Vice President Sales of mtu.
Over forty 8000 series engines have been sold to date for fast ferries, large yachts and supply and military vessels. The 20V 8000 is mtu's most powerful diesel engine.
The ferry operator Fred Olsen currently transports almost three million passengers, 500,000 cars and 250,000 trucks each year and operates four fast ferries and one conventional ferry on five routes around the Canary Islands.
Delivery is expected to take place in the second half of 2004. The ferry will accommodate 1,350 passengers, over 340 cars and over 400 lane meters. It will travel on routes between the Canary Islands.
"In addition to the smooth handling of the new ferry in rough seas, we felt it was also important to maintain the high speed in order to offer our customers a reliable timetable. We were therefore looking for higher propulsion power without having to change over to gas turbine technology", explained Fred Olsen Junior, Executive Chairman of Fred Olsen S.A. The ferry operator thus opted for the four 20-cylinder engines of the mtu 8000 series. They provide a total power of 32,800 kW, which can be increased as the transport volume grows on the routes planned. The power is transmitted via water jets. The ferry can thus achieve a service speed of over 40 knots. In addition to the main drive systems, mtu is also supplying four on-board generator sets based on 8-cylinder engines of the 2000 series each with 385 kW and a comprehensive service package. "The fact that Fred Olsen chose mtu emphasizes the operator's confidence in our products and services", said Peter Grosch, Executive Vice President Sales of mtu.
Over forty 8000 series engines have been sold to date for fast ferries, large yachts and supply and military vessels. The 20V 8000 is mtu's most powerful diesel engine.
The ferry operator Fred Olsen currently transports almost three million passengers, 500,000 cars and 250,000 trucks each year and operates four fast ferries and one conventional ferry on five routes around the Canary Islands.