Rolls-Royce has achieved a significant milestone by completing the factory acceptance test for Italian Navy’s new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) multi-purpose amphibious vessel, to be built by Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups. Rolls-Royce will be providing two MT30 gas turbines to power the new 20,000 tonne displacement, multi-purpose amphibious vessel. The LHD will be built and launched in the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) shipyard before being set up and delivered at the company’s yard in Muggiano (La Spezia) and is an important element within Italy’s Navy Act – a major investment programme to renew the Italian Navy’s fleet.
Don Roussinos, Rolls-Royce, President – Naval, commented, “We’re extremely proud that the MT30 will power the new Landing Helicopter Dock and we very much welcome Fincantieri as the latest customer for our MT30 gas turbine which we believe will provide them with the optimum solution for the needs of the vessel they will build for the Italian Navy.”
The factory acceptance test, which has to be completed before the gas turbine can be delivered, was carried out at the Rolls-Royce Test Facility in Bristol. The engine had undergone a week of rigorous performance tests, witnessed by representatives from Fincantieri and the Italian Navy.
