ABB has signed a 15-year service agreement with Royal Caribbean Group.
Covering 33 existing ships across its five brands, this comprehensive agreement includes preventive maintenance and digital solutions to support and optimise propulsion operations, improve vessel safety, maximise fleet availability, and ensure fast turnaround times for planned Azipod® propulsion servicing.
“Our collaboration with Royal Caribbean Group spans nearly three decades, beginning with the installation of Azipod® propulsion on one of the world’s largest cruise ships at the time,” said Juha Koskela, President of ABB’s Marine & Ports division.
“Since then, we’ve partnered on numerous pioneering projects.
“This service agreement marks an important milestone in our journey together and highlights the critical role of ABB’s solutions in modernising and maintaining the performance of one of the world’s most innovative cruise fleets,” he said.
“This agreement exemplifies how a shared commitment to innovation can unlock new opportunities to improve progress toward ship performance goals,” added Palle Laursen, Executive Vice President and Head of Marine.
ABB claimed that from its creation over three decades ago to its leading position in shipping today, Azipod® propulsion has revolutionised marine transport by delivering unparalleled gains for performance, efficiency, sustainability and reliability.
The gearless, steerable propulsion system, with the electric drive motor in a pod outside the ship’s hull, can rotate 360 deg to increase vessel manoeuvrability and efficiency, while cutting fuel consumption by up to 20%, compared to conventional shaftline systems.
Since the first installation on a cruise ship over 25 years ago, Azipod® technology has saved more than 1 mill tonnes of fuel in the cruise segment alone, ABB said.
