Rolls-Royce to capitalise on its brand

As part of the process the company is introducing four features to ensure that Rolls-Royce designs – whether offshore support vessels or expedition cruise ships – are instantly recognisable.
The four features common to every design are a knuckle line that slopes down towards the bow and links the new designs with older UT and NVC versions. A vertical side area and a vertical upper stem will simplify the design and decouple the hull form from the superstructure. The vessels will also have a topside sheer line with a small convex curvature. Although these features will be present in some form from here on, the company’s designers will have flexibility to modify them depending on ship type.
A key aspect of the company’s strategy is the decoupling of the hull design from the superstructure, also giving designers and naval architects more flexibility. This will minimise double curvature which is time-consuming to fabricate and expensive. The use of flat plate or single curvature plating will be increased to simplify construction and save time.
Commenting on the new strategy, Rolls-Royce chief designer, marine, Martijn de Jongh, said: “The new elements have been devised to ensure every Rolls-Royce ship is built for optimum performance and functionality. They will be distinguished by their clear angles, clean shapes and faces. We have evaluated the profile of the vessels to omit any unnecessary aspects, like excessive large windage areas, for instance. They will be easier to build as well.”