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Thu 20 Jul 2017 07:12

Rolls-Royce hails Heesen's 600,000 bhp MTU engine milestone


More than 100 luxury yachts fitted out with MTU engines.

Rolls-Royce has hailed Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts for the total installation of 600,000 brake horsepower (bhp), which has resulted in numerous superyachts being equipped with MTU engines.

Knut Muller, Head of the Marine and Government Business Division at MTU Friedrichshafen (a business of Rolls-Royce Power Systems), explained: "We have delivered a total of more than 220 engines to Heesen for more than 100 yachts and, in doing so, have together refined and enhanced the propulsion systems we design for luxury yachts.

The first joint project was in 1983. Highlights include the construction of Octopussy, a 38-metre yacht - named after the famous James Bond film - fitted out with three 16-cylinder MTU engines (Series 396).

This was followed up in 2010 by the award-winning Galactica Star, which was the first to be fitted with 20V 4000 engines.

The Galactica Super Nova, which was launched last year, is a 70-metre-long luxury yacht equipped with a pair of MTU 20V 4000 engines.

"Reliability and cutting-edge technology are decisive for us and for our customers. This is why we use MTU engines for our superyachts," said Arthur Brouwer, CEO of Heesen, explaining the reason for the long-standing relationship with MTU.

With their joint Nova Hybrid project, Heesen and MTU have aimed to take another step forward in propulsion technology. The combined output of 1,200 kW from the diesel engines (2 MTU 12V 2000 M61 units) and 220 kW from the electric motors are designed to provide benefits in terms of fuel efficiency, manoeuvrability, acceleration and comfort.

Earlier this month, Heesen announced the delivery of the world's first hybrid-powered, 50-metre-long fast displacement luxury yacht to its owner under the name Home.

The yacht is powered by twin 804hp MTU 12V 2000 M61s and is said to burn 98 litres of fuel per hour at 12 knots and just 57 litres per hour at ten knots. The diesel-electric propulsion system will allow for silent cruising at up to nine knots, and the vessel can reach a top speed of 16.3 knots when powered by its main engines.

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