The power systems specialist Rolls-Royce Power Systems has secured a major contract from the Brazilian offshore transport company Starnav Serviços Marítimos.
The engines will be installed in ten new vessels being built by the Detroit Brasil Ltda. shipyard for the energy group Petrobras, which are due to enter service between 2026 and 2028.
There are a total of 40 mtu 16V 4000 M33S engines. The engines will supply on-board power to six platform supply vessels and four oil recovery vessels. In combination with SCR systems from Hug Engineering, the engines comply with IMO Tier III emissions standards. For the first time in this series of vessels, battery systems are also being integrated into the propulsion system.
Each engine delivers 2,080 kW at 1,800 rpm. According to the specifications, they are characterised by rapid load acceptance, high reliability and long maintenance intervals. They are designed for use in on-board power generation and in diesel-electric propulsion systems.
The vessels, which are approximately 92 m long, will support offshore logistics for Petrobras under twelve-year charter agreements.
According to Carlos Eduardo Pereira, CEO of Starnav, these new vessels represent a significant step forward for the offshore supply vessel sector. By integrating engines into a hybrid propulsion system – which includes a specialised battery system and the flexibility to use the lower-emission HVO fuel – Starnav is demonstrating a concrete commitment to both environmental responsibility and operational efficiency, the CEO said.
