Global giant Rolls-Royce is growing its series of mtu yacht solutions, “From Bridge to Propeller”.
Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division is showcasing its mtu 12V2000Z engine with 2222hp to the public for the first time at Cannes Yachting Festival. With a new mtu NautIQ Bridge for yachts between 30 and 40 metres in length, the company now also offers fully integrated bridge solutions for large series yachts.
In addition, Rolls-Royce is introducing a new, even more flexible exhaust aftertreatment system in combination with the mtu 4000 series engines. A fuel-efficient POD drive completes the expansion of the “From Bridge to Propeller” portfolio.
The combination of mtu engine and POD has already gone into series production. At Cannes Yachting Festival 2025, Italian shipyard Azimut is presenting its Grande 30 yacht for the first time that features this engineering lineup. This solution is the result of intensive collaboration between Azimut and Rolls-Royce, which included extensive testing of the entire propulsion system on a special test bench at the Rolls-Royce factory.
Denise Kurtulus, senior vice president global marine at Rolls-Royce Power Systems says: “The aim of ‘Bridge to Propeller’ is to build and operate large yachts as efficiently, safely, climate friendly and cost-effectively as possible. The individual components – bridge, engine and POD – and the coordinated complete systems are designed precisely for this purpose. With our unique complete offering, we have positioned ourselves extremely successfully in the yacht market.
mtu NautIQ Bridge
The new mtu NautIQ bridge offers an integrated bridge solution tailored for yachts ranging from 30 to 40 metres in length. With this new solution, manufacturers, owners and crews of production boats can now also benefit from the advantages that an integrated bridge system offers over traditional bridge solutions. The platform for serial production yachts condenses the core technology of high-end systems for steering, control, navigation and alarming.
The bridge platform, which is tailored to the requirements of series-produced yachts, builds on the experience gained by bridge specialist Team Italia Marine, which was acquired by Rolls-Royce two years ago, in equipping large superyachts.
It integrates numerous instruments that are often operated individually for monitoring and operating a yacht into a single unit – from monitoring the entire powertrain to navigation, weather forecasting and radio technology to the alarm system – and is prepared for the use of future systems.
Christian Paolini, managing director and sales manager at Team Italia Marine says: “The mtu NautIQ Bridge not only represents the state of the art in technology, but is also designed to allow the integration of new functions such as artificial intelligence systems. This means that a yacht is already fit for the future of yacht control and automation.
“It responds to the evolving needs of the market, delivering production efficiency and technological innovation while laying the foundations for the next generation of navigation.”
The launch highlights how Rolls-Royce is shaping the future of integrated bridge systems within its mtu NautIQ portfolio.
Since the acquisition, Team Italia Marine’s bridge solutions have formed an integral part of the mtu NautIQ portfolio of Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division and are now also being marketed outside Italy. “There is considerable interest in these forward-looking products among renowned yacht builders. Our discussions with yacht manufacturers, particularly in central Europe, give us cause for optimism,” adds Paolini.
mtu engine with 2222hp
The new 12-cylinder engine in the mtu 2000 series for yachts and other fast vessels offers maximum power of 2,222hp (1,634kW) in a very small space. First announced in June 2025, the new 12V2000 M96Z, is 220hp (162kW) more powerful than its predecessor. According to the company, the dimensions and measurements are virtually unchanged from the previous 12V 2000 M96X model. To achieve these new peak values, the turbochargers have been further developed for powerful acceleration with low exhaust emissions, the crankcase and cylinder heads have been improved, and new pistons have been developed. As with all mtu yacht engines, the 12V2000 M96Z is approved for operation with the sustainable fuel HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil). IMO II and EPA Tier 3 recreational certifications are possible.
Denise Kurtulus expressly recommends this fuel for sustainable yacht operation: “With this hydrogenated vegetable oil, a CO2 reduction of up to 90 per cent is already possible. We are convinced that there is no alternative to the combustion engine in the yacht market in the foreseeable future if performance and range requirements are to be met. The fuel used is the alternative, and that is currently HVO, which is now available in many ports. Many yacht captains and owners have already had excellent experiences with HVO. We have tested it extensively on our test benches and can confirm that mtu engines can run on it without any problems.”
In the longer term, Denise Kurtulus favours methanol, but regrets that green methanol, i.e. methanol produced with the help of renewable energy, is not yet widely available. Kurtulus: “Rolls-Royce is continuing to work on the development of a methanol engine. “When green methanol is available as an alternative fuel in the required volume, we will have the right engine for it,” says Kurtulus.
The market for such engines is currently limited to pilot applications.
The third component of the “Bridge to Propeller” concept is the POD drive. The compact drive combines the gearbox and rudder system and claims to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent. In addition, the POD improves the manoeuvrability of the ship.
mtu SCR (selective catalytic reduction)
Rolls-Royce is also introducing a more flexible and compact exhaust aftertreatment system in combination with the 16-cylinder mtu Series 4000 engine for yachts, tugs and ferries. According to Rolls-Royce, the new generation of mtu SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems requires up to 42 percent less space and weighs almost 40 percent less. Further advantages include a claimed increased service life of the ceramic SCR material (substrate) to 18,000 operating hours (depending on the load profile) and a 15 per cent reduction in lifecycle costs. Rolls-Royce will gradually offer the new generation of the mtu Flex SCR system for other mtu engines as well.
“This modular new exhaust aftertreatment system can be even better tailored to the specific needs of our customers and offers them many advantages for their voyages in emission-controlled areas,” says Kurtulus.
Ships with integrated propulsion systems (mtu engines and SCR systems) in the power range between 2,176 and 2,560 kilowatts can be operated in areas with particularly strict emission controls (IMO Tier III). IMO Tier III emission control areas (ECAs) include, for example, the Baltic and North Seas and the north American coast. The mtu SCR system reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by a claimed 75 per cent compared to IMO II limits, the company says.
In terms of flexibility, shipyards and ship owners also benefit from the ability to switch the dosing of the reducing agent on and off. This may be the case when they are traveling from one emission-regulated area to another.
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