The Motor Ship does not normally report on naval vessels but this one is exceptional. Rolls-Royce has designs for a powerful new logistics ship ? offering record speeds for transporting high volumes of equipment and spares in support of rapid response forces. It may be find favour in commercial applications.
The Fast Naval Sea-Lift Vessel will carry 2,500 tonnes of cargo for 3,000 nautical miles at 40 knots - almost twice as fast as ships currently capable of carrying this load. The low-resistance monohull design was created by Rolls-Royce for fast cargo transport by commercial shipping.
It offers flexible capabilities depending on range, speed and load requirements. It can achieve a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles, carrying 2,500 tonnes of cargo, at 36 knots, or carry 3,700 tonnes of cargo at 40 knots for 500 nautical miles.
Rolls-Royce will provide an integrated propulsion system, including three MT30 gas turbines based on the Trent aero engine which has transformed civil aerospace, three Rolls-Royce Kamewa 250 waterjets, the most powerful in the world, and winches, gearboxes, control systems
The MT30 has been selected to power the Integrated Power System (IPS) Engineering Development Model (EDM) for the US Navy?s DD(X) multimission destroyer programme and has been proposed in all of the propulsion system options for the Royal Navy?s two future carriers. The waterjets are already being designed and manufactured for commercial marine projects.
The main structure is high tensile steel, with only the accommodation and bridge decks to be constructed from aluminium alloy - maximising strength and combat-zone safety, minimising weight, and reducing build costs. Military features include helicopter landing and airlift facilities, positions for defence systems, communication equipment, cargo decks designed for military equipment and flexible loading facilities.
FNSLV technical details are: length 177m; beam 24m; design draught 4.15m; deadweight 4,000 tons; lane meters 1,800m.
