Just before the holiday break, ABB announced that it had secured a €157 mill contract to supply power, propulsion and digital solutions for Genting Hong Kong’s proposed six ‘Universal Class’ vessels.
Each of the 286 m vessels will be propelled by twin Azipod units, with a combined power of 30 MW and will run on LNG. The vessels will be built by the Genting-owned shipbuilding company MV Werften with sites in Wismar, Rostock and Stralsund in Germany.
The vessels are due for delivery between 2023-2024.
Each vessel will have a passenger capacity of 1,000 to 4,000 pax, depending on the luxury, premium or contemporary class. Genting will operate the vessels for global hotel brands that want to enter the marine industry but are facing constraints related to most shipbuilding slots being occupied at present.
The vessels will have the capability to be connected to ABB Ability Collaborative Operations Centres, which monitor the performance of ABB technology on board and remotely connects operators with company experts.
“These vessels represent the next generation of cruising with their high flexibility, sustainable profile and highest safety and efficiency standards. ABB’s Azipod electric propulsion, known for its unparalleled performance, environmental credentials and reliability, has been a natural choice for these vessels,” said Gustaf Gronberg, Executive Vice President, Marine Operations & Newbuilding, Genting Hong Kong.
“With these vessels, we enter a new era of sustainable cruising, and we are pleased to collaborate with ABB, who through the years have proven to be a reliable solution provider enabling us to deploy advanced technology that defines the future of cruising,” said Peter Fetten, President and CEO of MV Werften.
“Sustainable technologies are at the heart of what we do at ABB, and we are truly honoured to continue our long-standing relationship with MV Werften and Genting to see our technology chosen for these ships that seek to redefine modern-day cruising,” said Peter Terwiesch, President of the Industrial Automation business at ABB.
“Azipod propulsion has become an industry benchmark for environmentally-friendly cruise technology, with its proven ability to cut fuel consumption by up to 20%, compared to traditional shaftline propulsion systems,” said Juha Koskela, Managing Director, ABB Marine & Ports. “Fuel savings of over 900,000 tonnes have been made in the cruise segment alone due to the selection of Azipod propulsion.”
