Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract for approx EUR 30 million for the manufacture and supply of the main diesel generating sets and their auxiliary and support systems for the Royal Navy’s Future Aircraft Carriers (CVF) by Thales Naval Division on behalf of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance. The contract award was marked by a ceremony held on HMS Victory in Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, on 30 November 2007.
The Wärtsilä engines were selected for their durability, reliability, economy, long periods between maintenance and full compliance with today’s and foreseen emissions regulations. For survivability the main diesel generating sets will be installed in two separate machinery spaces.
Four Wärtsilä engines for each ship
The main diesel generating sets will form part of the Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system. The selected prime movers of the generating sets are two 12-cylinder and two 16-cylinder Wärtsilä 38 engines for each ship and will supply 40 MW of the total installed power of over 100 MW, the remainder coming from two gas turbine alternators. They will be the largest diesel engines ever supplied to the Royal Navy. The first ship set of diesel generators will be delivered in 2009, with the equipment for the second ship following in 2011.
Each carrier will support 40 aircrafts
The CVF carriers, HMS “Queen Elizabeth” and HMS “Prince of Wales”, will have a displacement of around 65,000 tonnes and length of 284 metres. They will be the largest and most powerful warships ever built in the United Kingdom. The hulls are being planned for a 50-year service life and the ships will be built in modules by selected naval shipbuilding yards around the UK with final assembly in Rosyth. Each ship will have a complement of typically 1450 including aircrew, and will support around 40 aircrafts including the Joint Strike Fighter and Airborne Early Warning aircraft.
This is the latest of a series of highly significant contracts for Wärtsilä for equipment supply and support to the Royal Navy. Earlier contracts include the main generator engines for the IEP system of the Albion-class landing platform dock vessels (LPD) and the diesel generating sets in the IEP installation of the Type 45 destroyers, which will provide the air defence support to the Future Aircraft Carriers and their carrier task groups.
Media contact:
Marit Holmlund-Sund
Public Relations Manager
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1439
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail: marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com
Notes to the editor:
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 15,000 professionals manning 150 Wärtsilä locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on The Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland.
