The Azipod® propulsion units, SKF’s industry leading technology development, is helping to enhance the reliability and reduce the life cycle cost of propulsion units that will drive the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers in the world.
These units developed by ABB are being installed on the 170,000-cubic metre ice-breaking LNG tankers that will be used as part of the Yamal project to open up gas from the Yamal peninsula and transport it to Asia and Europe. The project is expected to produce 16.5 million tonnes of LNG per year and will see the first vessels commissioned in South Korea in 2016. However, it faces its own unique set of challenges as the Yamal peninsula is located inside the Arctic Circle and is locked in ice for most of the year. The remote and fragile environment is very harsh and calls only for such machinery and components that can withstand such conditions. Therefore, they are required to be rugged enough to keep going in severe operating conditions at all times throughout the year.
In light of this, the ABB Marine chose to work with SKF on the development of its Azipod propulsion units for 10 LNG carriers. SKF has a successful background of over 10 years of engineering and delivering units for ice going projects which are functional to this date. Further, their experience in engineering expertise in demanding applications is unmatched and has produced reliable innovations. SKF is offering custom made thrust bearing arrangements which incorporate housing and seals, high performance self-aligning CARB toroidal roller bearings for the propeller shafts as well as assembly and installation supervision in the ABB Marine factory. By implementing such products, ABB was able to build in superior operating reliability with a long service life.
Sami Kontturi, Project Manager at SKF said: “We are privileged to be lending our expertise and state of the art technologies to one of the largest industrial undertakings in the Arctic. With our engineering support and products we can help ABB and its Azipod propulsion units to deliver enhanced performance and efficiency on the LNG carriers as the Yamal project takes a great step forward in the global search for natural resources.”
In addition to this arrangement and project, SKF has also delivered Turbulo Bilge water separators and SKF BlueMon, an environmental monitoring system for recording and mapping ship emissions.
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Source: SKF
