Rolls-Royce wins first order for new ship

LONDON (AP) - Rolls-Royce Group PLC, the manufacturer of the plane engine that blew apart midair on a Qantas superjumbo earlier this month, says it has received the first order for a ship designed to slice through waves in extreme weather.

The London-based company said Wednesday the 12 million pound ($19.10) order from Farstad Shipping includes an option for a second vessel at the same value.

Rolls-Royce manufactures marine equipment as well engines for commercial jetliners. The new vessel is designed to pierce through high waves in tough conditions, while reducing fuel consumption.

Rolls-Royce is working with airlines to replace faulty Trent 900 engines that power A380 superjumbos.

Shares in the company - which have dropped 10 percent since the Qantas incident - are down 0.3 percent at 587.5 pence.

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