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Power systems company Rolls-Royce and China's Bestway Engineering have unveiled a range of energy efficient ship designs which have been produced to meet the future requirements of the global merchant shipping industry.

The new ship designs have been produced using the combined expertise of both companies and will feature advanced Rolls-Royce propulsion systems. They are tailored specifically to meet the needs of merchant shipping, where low emissions and reduced operating costs are key drivers.

Oddbjørn Eliassen, Rolls-Royce, President - Merchant, said: "As international emissions controls are progressively introduced, the marine industry is increasingly collaborating to create highly efficient vessels that reduce operating costs and environmental impacts. Through our partnership with Bestway, we are well positioned to lead the development of ship designs that will meet the future demands of merchant operators."

Rolls-Royce and Bestway Engineering announced their collaboration a year ago. The new designs are the first to emerge from the companies' Joint Project Team.

The vessel types include Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers, container vessels and general cargo ships, all designed to comply with and exceed future emission targets.

The designs featuring Rolls-Royce gas engines already meet IMO (International Maritime Organisation) Tier III requirements on NOx, SOx and CO2 emissions, which come into force in 2016.