Rolls-Royce design for NZ support ship

The Polar-class logistics support vessel in development for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will be based on a Rolls-Royce concept design. Rolls-Royce announced that it received a contract for the design from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) on 20 September.

HHI is set to build the vessel as part of the NZDF’s Maritime Sustainment Capability (MSC) project. The 23,000t Polar class vessel will replace the NZDF’s outgoing tanker, HMNZS Endeavour.

The design will be based on Rolls-Royce’s Environship Leadge Bow design. It will be modified to meet NZDF requirements for a heavily winterised, ice–strengthened vessel capable of carrying out operations in a challenging Antarctic environment.

Rolls-Royce equipment will also be used on the vessel. The company will supply a Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel (CODLAD) propulsion plant and propeller shafts. Electrical power will be supplied by four Rolls-Royce MTU gensets, which will also provide power to the Rolls-Royce supplied switchboards, motors, drives, bow thruster and the electric RAS/FAS system. 

Rolls-Royce is scheduled to deliver equipment to HHI from 2018, with the vessel scheduled for a 2020 delivery.

Sam Cameron, senior vice president sales and business development – naval, Rolls-Royce, 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.’