Rolls-Royce to expand global marine service network with new facility in Hamburg, Germany

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, continues the expansion of its global marine services network with the ground-breaking for a new facility in Hamburg, Germany.

The global marine services network is dedicated to helping customers maximise the operational capability of their vessels and manage their costs most effectively.The network now includes facilities in 29 countries and employs thousands of support staff, engineers and technicians around the world.

The site will be home to a 2,000 square metre Marine Service Centre providing stateof-the-art repair and overhaul expertise to its German customers. Rolls-Royce will invest 6 million euros in the new centre, which will employ up to 70 people when fully operational. The new site benefits from being located within one of Europe’s busiest commercial ports.

Commenting at the ground-breaking ceremony held today, Bernd Wittorf, Country Manager, Rolls-Royce Marine Deutschland GmbH, said: “Germany is a key market for marine activities and Hamburg is at the heart of its marine cluster. This is the first step towards establishing a world-class facility for our German-based operations. The new service centre in Hamburg will strengthen our repair and overhaul services to customers in one of the world’s largest shipping markets. We would like to thank both the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and the Government of the State of Hamburg for the good collaboration.”

Expected to open in 2011, the facility will feature specialist machining capability and provide a range of repair services, including in-house winch repairs, propeller blade polishing, and root machining. It will also have extensive overhaul capacity enabling routine work to be carried out on tunnel thrusters, steering gears, low pressure hydraulic motors, and hydraulic control valves and pumps. The facility will also integrate the design and production of the Rolls-Royce range of Intering tank stabilisation equipment. The new Hamburg service centre will replace the existing marine offices and workshops located at Hamburg Freeport Area and the northern suburbs of Hamburg.

Last year, Rolls-Royce opened six new marine services centres in key markets across North America, South America, Europe and the Middle East.

1. Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
2. As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce today has a broad customer base comprising more than 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
3. Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries. The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment, and to further developing employee skills.
4. At its German sites, Dahlewitz near Berlin and Oberursel near Frankfurt/Main, Rolls-Royce Deutschland employs around 3,000 people. Rolls-Royce Marine Deutschland and Rolls-Royce Intering Products currently employ 40 people in Hamburg.
5. In 2009, Rolls-Royce invested £864 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental aspects of its products, in particular the reduction of emissions.
6. Annual underlying revenues were £10.1 billion in 2009, of which about half came from services revenues. The firm and announced order book stood at £58.3 billion at 31 December 2009, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
7. Rolls-Royce is a world leader in marine solutions, providing products, service and expertise to more than 30,000 vessels in the offshore, merchant, naval surface and submarine markets. It designs ships and its product range includes propulsion systems featuring diesel engines and gas turbines, propellers, thrusters and water jets. Rolls-Royce also provides manoeuvring and stabilising systems and deck machinery. Around 30 per cent of Marine turnover is derived from service support activity, with a global network of sales and service offices in 35 countries. Rolls-Royce equipment is in service with more than 70 navies.