Kongsberg Simrad and ABB Team Up

Kongsberg Simrad AS and ABB AS have entered a worldwide cooperation agreement on joint marketing, sales and technology development to marine and offshore vessels. As part of this agreement there will be a transfer of ABB's business related to dynamic positioning to Kongsberg Simrad. The two companies have established themselves as leading international suppliers, predominantly with complementary products and systems. By the co-operation, the two companies aim to take one step ahead, to become the leading vendor of packages of vessel automation, dynamic positioning, electric power, propulsion, and thruster systems to marine and offshore vessels. By this agreement both companies will capitalize on ABB`s new industrial IT technology by a joint development program on integration of total solutions, enhancing the vessel's performance, reliability, safety, fuel consumption and emission. Technology leadership will be secured by focusing the development resources on core competencies, technologies, and products. The marine industry is presently in a phase of consolidation with mergers and alliances, where ship owners and shipyards become fewer and larger. While focusing on own core technologies, buying pattern rapidly changes into contracting larger scope of supply and services with an increased responsibility for the vendors.