London. 7 September 2016. Rolls-Royce is closing in on the sale of its fiftieth B33:45 engine precisely two years after its launch.

Orders have been received from all over the world, from Norway to New Zealand, and include the UK, Spain, Canada, China and Singapore.

The first vessel equipped with the B33:45, the trawler “Holmøy”, entered service in Norwegian waters earlier this year.

“The B33:45 was defined by our customers and embodies 70 years engine experience in a modern package,” said Kjell Harloff, Rolls-Royce, Vice President, Engines – Marine. “Since our new engine was launched two years ago, it has been very well received by the market.”

The engine offers customers 20 per cent increased power compared to its predecessor, delivering the same output with fewer cylinders. This lowers the costs through the engine’s lifecycle, and also allows for smaller machine rooms on board.

The engine meets the international environment requirements for IMO NOx Tier III with support from a SCR system. Specific fuel consumption is 175g/kWh at 85 per cent MCR and 177g/kWh at full load, and the engine is economical down to very low loads.

A modularised design makes servicing the engine easier. The engine is designed for up to 25,000 hours between major maintenance when operating at average loads within a specified window.

“One of the most important success factors for us today and throughout the years is the close relation to customers during the development process. The Norwegian maritime environment has played a key role,” said Rolls-Royce Bergen Engines AS, Managing Director, Jeff Elliott.

Rolls-Royce Bergen Engines AS is Norway’s last remaining manufacturer of large reciprocating engines and the largest industrial workplace within the Bergen region.

The company marked 70 years of engine production in the country on 25th August. The company’s first diesel engine was built in Solheimsviken in the spring of 1946. Since then more than 7000 engines have been delivered from Bergen. More than 4000 of these are still in operation.

The facility at Hordvikneset is Rolls-Royce’s centre of excellence for medium speed engines, with a large research and development area, alongside engine production and test beds for full scale testing. The facility also includes its own dock for shipping by sea and service overhauls on board ships.