Tuesday, September 4, 2012

EPA Approves New Rolls-Royce Marine LNG Engine

The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved for sale in the US market a Rolls-Royce brand marine liquefied natural gas engine that is designed to improve fuel efficiency, cut methane emissions and meet strict international environmental standards set to take effect in 2016.

“This Certificate of Conformity by the EPA for our latest gas engine is good news for the US marine industry because LNG as a vessel fuel is indisputably the best long-term solution for ship owners,” Rolls-Royce President Neil Gilliver said in a prepared statement.

The EPA conformity certificate is issued for the C-engine range from Rolls-Royce. The engines are already in operation on vehicle ferries and coastal ferries in Europe. “This latest C26:33 engine, which is highly suitable for tugs, articulated tug barges, ferries, coastal vessels and offshore support vessels, has cut methane to very low levels,” Gilliver said.

The marine gas engine, according to Rolls-Royce, fulfills the requirements for operation in Emission Control Areas and the very strict International Maritime Organization Tier III rules that come into force in 2016, and the forthcoming Tier IV emissions limits, which are even tougher.

“The EPA approval gives us a head start in the US market,” Gilliver said.