ABB has secured an order worth around $150 mill to deliver a various technologies to power Fincantieri-built cruise ships.
The company will equip five newbuilding vessels with patented Azipod electric propulsion units.
Each cruise ship will be powered by twin Azipod units, bringing the total ordered propulsion power for the five newbuilds to 178 MW.
Part of the order includes the largest and most powerful Azipod propulsion units ever to be installed at Fincantieri, rated at 20 MW. The vessels will enter service between 2023 and 2026.
“We look forward to collaborating with Fincantieri on these world class vessels, setting them on course for eco-conscious cruising.
Today’s passengers expect sustainable journeys, and we are honoured to support Fincantieri’s environmental goals with our technology that stands for innovation and efficiency like no other,” said Juha Koskela, Division President, ABB Marine & Ports.
“Our collaboration with ABB spans over two decades, with the first Azipod propulsion installation at Fincantieri dating back to late 1990s. Today, we are taking further advancements in our commitment to environmentally friendly shipping and we are delighted to once again work with a trusted partner whose solutions have over the years delivered superior performance, reliability, safety and sustainability gains for the cruise segment,” said Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ships Division, Fincantieri.
With the electric drive motor situated in a submerged pod outside the ship’s hull, an Azipod can rotate 360 deg, significantly increasing manoeuvrability and operating efficiency of a vessel and cutting fuel consumption by up to 20%, compared to conventional shaftline systems.
Today, over 100 cruise vessels are fitted with Azipod technology. Since its launch three decades ago, Azipod propulsion has saved a total of over 900,000 tonnes of fuel in the passenger cruise segment alone.
An Azipod’s power ranges from 1 to 22 MW, and its technology plays a key role in ABB’s strong position for environmentally friendly electric propulsion, the company claimed.
Each vessel will also feature ABB’s integrated electric power plant setup, encompassing generators, drives, switchboards, propulsion transformers and a remote-control system to manoeuvre the Azipods from the bridge.
Combining Azipod propulsion with the electric power plant allows the configuration of all relevant equipment for optimised performance, resulting in increased efficiency and sustainability of operations, ABB added.
In line with ABB Marine & Ports ‘Electric. Digital. Connected.’ approach, these vessels will have the capability to make use of the ABB Ability Collaborative Operations infrastructure and centres.
Collaborative Operations uses remote equipment monitoring and data analytics to enable predictive maintenance, planned interventions and remote technical support.
