Rolls-Royce has delivered the first 16-cylinder engines of the successful MTU Series 8000, which are made in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The Taiwanese shipyard CSBC Corp will install the first two 16V 8000 M71L engines in new patrol vessels for the Taiwanese Coast Guard.

The two engines, which each deliver 7,280kW of power, will accelerate the 1,000-tonne-class vessels to up to a speed of 24 knots.

A total of six vessels of this class are to be built with MTU engines, which will be delivered by the end of 2022. Furthermore, Rolls-Royce has sold a further 20 engines of the new type to a second customer.

The 16V 8000 is not just another cylinder variant of Series 8000, but a completely new engine that incorporates various product improvements designed to provide increased efficiency and even easier maintenance. The engine complies with IMO Tier II emissions regulations and can also meet other emissions specifications as required.

Currently, MTU Series 8000 engines are also being installed in further vessels of the Taiwanese Coast Guard: the 4,000-tonne-class vessels will be fitted with 20-cylinder engines of type 20V 8000 M71L.

The Taiwanese Coast Guard is currently carrying out a modernisation programme under which a total of 141 ships of various sizes are to be built by 2027. Many of these will be powered by MTU engines of Series 4000 and 8000 — significantly increasing the existing fleet of Taiwanese Coast Guard vessels with MTU engines.