ABB Marine & Ports latest shore connection technology is being used by Viking Lines ropax ‘Viking XPRS’ at Tallinn.
The 2008 built ropax is deployed on the 2.5-hour route across the Baltic between Tallinn, Estonia, and Helsinki, Finland, typically docking in the Estonian city twice a day.
ABB’s shore connection technology is designed for easy integration on all ship types and is controlled from the vessel, so that sequencing does not need intervention from the shore.
Its sustainable in-harbour operation is especially pertinent to city ports such as Tallinn, which can have a significant impact on local air quality. Given the frequency of port calls made by ‘Viking XPRS’, shore connections will also save substantial amounts of fuel, ABB claimed.
Earlier this year, Tallinn installed the latest ABB shore power systems on five of its piers in the Old City Harbour as part of the first shore power project in Estonia, enabling vessels with shore power technology to draw on land-based power while berthed.
“ABB’s shore connection is the latest initiative in our ongoing sustainability programme,” said Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Viking Line. “Installing a shore connection system on board ‘Viking XPRS’, and having the shore power available in the Port of Tallinn will make a significant contribution to clean air within the port and its surroundings.
“We have successfully collaborated with ABB on a number of projects, and the fact that ABB provides installations on board ship and in port, with prompt delivery and backed up by 24-hour support, has proved compelling,” he said.
“It is an honour to support Viking Line in its journey toward sustainable shipping,” added Jyri Jusslin, Senior Vice President and Head of Service at ABB Marine & Ports. “Our shore connection is designed for all types of ships, with safety and simplicity in mind. This is also another key step in ensuring that Baltic Sea ports continue on their forward-looking path to eliminate emissions.”
ABB’s full scope of supply for ‘Viking XPRS’ included a shore connection control board with three separate ship-shore communication links, ensuring fail-safe connections at all times.
The company has also provided the medium-voltage switchgear, an 11 kV-400 V transformer, a circuit breaker bypass arrangement for drydock connection, and a low-voltage main switchboard breaker.
The equipment meets the new IEC-standard for shore connections, which demand higher levels of safety and environmental performance than ever before at the shipside. Commissioning was executed during the vessel’s normal operation.
