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Rolls-Royce Plc. has delivered the first of a new design of cargo ship which will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40 percent, thanks to a combination of cutting edge marine technology, including a wave-piercing bow and an engine powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The first Rolls-Royce Environship, of NVC 401 LNG design, the Eidsvaag Pioner [pictured], was delivered to Norwegian company Eidsvaag AS last week, and will soon enter service on a year-round schedule delivering feed to numerous fish farms around the Norwegian coast.

The Environship, which can be adapted for different ship types, incorporates a range of Rolls-Royce technologies to deliver efficiency savings for ship owners. When compared to similar-sized diesel powered ships, the CO2 reduction is claimed to be up to 40 percent.

Neil Gilliver, Rolls-Royce, President - Merchant, said: "The Environship has now moved from concept to reality with the successful delivery of the first ship. We firmly believe that the only way to make significant reductions in emissions and fuel costs is to combine a range of innovative technologies into one ship. Environship does just that, by bringing together complementary technologies as part of a highly efficient propulsion system.

"We'd like to congratulate the Vard Aukra shipyard and our customer Eidsvaag on the successful completion of the first Environship, and look forward to monitoring the performance of Eidsvaag Pioner in service."

Vidar Eidsvaag, Operations Manager at Eidsvaag AS remarked: "We look forward to entering service with this vessel, the very first of the Environship concept. We have great expectations of both the design and equipment, and we hope and think that this vessel will enable us to meet future challenges in an even better way."

Rolls-Royce technologies featured in Environship include a Bergen engine powered by LNG, the Promas combined rudder and propeller, a hybrid shaft generator to optimize use of electrical power and an innovative wave-piercing hull design.

Image: The first Rolls-Royce Environship - the Eidsvaag Pioner.