- Marine propulsion and engineering specialist ABB has secured an order of around $150m to deliver a comprehensive scope of technologies.
- The order is to power next-generation cruise ships being built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
- Strengthening its preferred supplier position in the cruise segment, ABB will equip five newbuild vessels with Azipod electric propulsion.
- Each cruise ship will be powered by twin Azipod units, bringing the total ordered propulsion power for the five newbuilds to 178MW.
- Part of the order includes the largest and most powerful Azipod propulsion units ever to be installed at Fincantieri, rating at 20MW each.
- The vessels will enter service between 2023 and 2026.
A recent article published in the Shipinsight highlights that ABB secures major contracts for five cruise ships with Fincantieri.
Collaboration with Fincantieri
“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.
A decade collaboration
“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.
ABB’s integrated electric power plant setup
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 Azipod units from the bridge.
Combining Azipod propulsion with the electric power plant allows to configure all relevant equipment for optimized performance, resulting in increased efficiency and sustainability of operations.
Shipping’s digital and connected future
In line with ABB Marine & Ports ‘Electric. Digital. Connected.’ approach that envisages shipping’s digital and connected future, these vessels will have the capability to leverage 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.
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Source: Shipinsight
