Rolls-Royce waterjets selected for Trinidad and Tobago patrol craft

Rolls-Royce waterjets have been selected for six new fast patrol craft that will help the coastguard protect the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

Each 30 metre vessel will be fitted with two Kamewa size 56 waterjets providing ship speeds of up to 40 knots. Advanced electronic controls provide a high level of manoeuvrability from this propulsion system.

The vessel’s robust propulsion system and its capability to operate in shallow debris-laden water will provide the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard with a sustained surveillance capability over the country’s internal waters, the archipelagic territorial sea and its exclusive economic zone. They will also target illegal trafficking of drugs, safety at sea and perform search and rescue duties.

All six vessels, which will each have a 12-man crew, will be built at Austal Ships’ Henderson facilities in Western Australia. All vessels are scheduled for delivery early in 2010.

Tony Davis, Rolls-Royce Regional Director said: “This application required a highly efficient propulsion system to meet high performance and low maintenance demands. Our proven A-series water jets were selected by Austal for their superior performance and low cost of ownership.”

Richard Williams of Austal Ships said: “Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jets stood out because of their high efficiency, good manoeuvrability and shallow draft. We have used hundreds of Rolls-Royce waterjets in the past with great success.”

The Rolls-Royce Kamewa A series waterjets use mixed-flow pump technology to deliver between 5-10 per cent higher efficiency than competing aluminium axial flow waterjets.