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Azipod Systems News

31 Aug 2017

ABB’s Azipod Writes History in the Arctic

(Photo: ABB)

Sovcomflot’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Christophe de Margerie made the world’s first-ever crossing of the Northern Sea in late August without the aid of an ice-breaker. The record-setting vessel is powered by ABB’s advanced Azipod electric propulsion technology. The 172,600 cubic meters Arctic LNG tanker, which features a lightweight steel reinforced hull, is the largest commercial ship to receive Arc7 certification, and is capable of travelling through ice up to 2.1m thick.

08 Apr 2015

Norwegian Cancels Cruise Due to Propulsion Problem

The April 12 Panama Canal sailing of Norwegian Star has been canceled due to a technical issue with the ship's ABB-manufactured azipod propulsion system, according to a statement from Norwegian Cruise Line. The Norwegian Star was originally scheduled for a 15 night cruise to the Panama Canal out of Los Angeles to Miami with port stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Puntarenas, Panama Canal, Cartagena, and Ocho Rios. The ship will remain out of service until April 26, 2015 so repairs can be made to the Azipod systems. Norwegian said a technical issue was to blame for the propulsion problem. The Norwegian Star is a 91,000 gross ton, 2,350 passenger cruise ship that entered service in 2001.

08 Jan 2013

Azipod Slip Ring Order for Cavotec

Azipod Unit: Image credit Cavotec

Cavotec wins order from ABB for twenty compact Marine Propulsion Slip ring (MPS) units to be fitted to advanced Azipod marine propulsion systems. Under the terms of this project, Cavotec is scheduled to complete deliveries of the MPS units to ABB by the beginning of Q2 2013. Cavotec MPS units, fitted to Azipod systems, enable vessel propellers to rotate through 360 degrees in its vertical axis thus providing steering. The units ensure the safe transmission of electrical power for the main motors…

21 Nov 2012

ABB Azipods for Korea-built WIV Vessels

Azipod C for WIV: Photo credit ABB

Eight Azipod C compact propulsion systems installed on 'Pacific Orca' and 'Pacific Osprey', the world’s largest wind farm installation vessels (WIV). The Azipod systems were delivered to the Samsung Shipyard in Korea from ABB’s new Azipod factory in Shanghai, China, established in 2011 to build the low power Azipod units. The new plant focuses on production of CO and CZ Azipod units, which range between 1.3 - 4.5 megawatts (MW) and 3.3 - 4.7 MW output, respectively. The factory helps ABB to meet fast-growing demand for high-end vessels from Chinese shipyards and…

19 Oct 2012

ABB Pods for Wind Turbine Install Vessels

Azipod C

Azipod C propulsion system from new regional ABB factory for two Wind Turbine Installation Vessels built by Samsung Heavy Industries. ABB recently delivered four Azipod C propulsion systems for the Blue Ocean II Wind Turbine Installation Vessel built by Samsung Shipyard in Korea. This is a repeat order from Samsung Shipyard, following a similar scope for the first Blue Ocean Wind Turbine Installation Vessel delivered in September, 2011. The two Wind Turbine Installation Vessels…

16 Jul 2012

Catastrophic Equipment Failures of VFD and HF Systems

Commercial and military users of electric propulsion systems have experienced failures of the variable frequency drive (VFD) and harmonic filter (HF) systems because the system design, including the VFD, did not have adequate self-monitoring and protection. On a ship, a variable-frequency drive (VFD) can be used to control the speed and direction of rotational motors, such as pumps, propellers and azipod systems. In some cases, these failures have resulted in catastrophic equipment failures causing arcing, fire and explosions of capacitors. In September of 2010, the Cunard Carnival cruise ship RMS Queen Mary 2 (QM2) was underway in the Mediterranean when an explosion occurred in the aft main switchboard room resulting from the failure of one of 12 capacitors in a harmonic filter…

17 Apr 2012

Carnival Azipod Service Contract for ABB

Photo credit: ABB

ABB has won a long-term service contract from Carnival Corporation to maintain and upgrade ABB’s Azipod equipment over the next 15 years for 20 ships in their fleet, cutting costs by as much as $1 million a year per ship. Carnival is the world’s largest cruise ship operator and has 20 cruise vessels with Azipod propulsion systems. ABB’s energy efficient Azipod uses less fuel than traditional systems, and provides better manoeuvrability in all operating conditions. The upgrades are projected to improve the already high energy efficiency of Azipod units by 2.5 to 4 percent.

12 Apr 2012

ABB Wins Long-Term Service Contract From Carnival

Zurich, Switzerland – ABB has won a long-term service contract from Carnival Corporation to maintain and upgrade ABB’s Azipod equipment over the next 15 years for 20 ships in their fleet, cutting costs by as much as $1 million a year per ship. Carnival is the world’s largest cruise ship operator and has 20 cruise vessels using Azipod propulsion systems. ABB’s energy-efficient Azipod uses less fuel than traditional systems, and provides more maneuverability in all operating conditions. The upgrades are projected to improve the already high energy efficiency of Azipod units by 2.5 to 4 percent. “Customers in all industries are looking at ways to reduce overall life cycle costs and make such costs more predictable…

11 Apr 2012

ABB Wins Contract From Carnival to Improve Energy Efficiency

Zurich, Switzerland – ABB, the power and automation technology group, has won a long-term service contract from Carnival Corporation to maintain and upgrade ABB’s Azipod equipment over the next 15 years for 20 ships in their fleet, cutting costs by as much as $1 million a year per ship. Carnival is the world’s largest cruise ship operator and has 20 cruise vessels with Azipod propulsion systems. ABB’s Azipod uses less fuel than traditional systems. The upgrades are projected to improve energy efficiency of Azipod units by 2.5 to 4 percent. “Customers in all industries are looking at ways to reduce overall lifecycle costs and make such costs more predictable, while continuing to improve equipment performance,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division.

20 Feb 2001

ABB to Supply Azipod Systems to Royal Navy

ABB has signed a contract with Appledore Shipbuilders, U.K. to supply the electric power plants and Compact Azipod propulsion systems for two survey vessels for the Royal Navy. The vessels, which are scheduled for delivery in 2002 and 2003, will be supplied under a contract with Vosper Thornycroft (U.K.) acting as prime contractor for the U.K. Ministry of Defence, which includes provision of support for 20 years. The ABB package for the vessel pair will include generators for the main power plant and two PWM DTC-controlled Compact Azipod units rated at 1,700 kW each. The new system, which has never before been featured on a Royal Navy vessel…

26 Jan 2001

CCL, ABB Reach Settlement on Propulsion System

Carnival Corp. (CCL) and ABB Industry Oy, Marine Group, a unit of the ABB Process Industries, reached a settlement in December regarding a malfunction in the propeller bearing system of one of the Azipod propulsion units that occurred last July on Carnival Cruise Lines' cruise ship, Paradise. CCL currently has Azipod propulsion installed on three of its cruise ships with similar systems ordered for three additional vessels. Holland America Line has also ordered Azipod systems for five cruise vessels. Carnival Corporations European cruise operator, Costa Cruises, also has Azipod units on the Costa Atlantica with plans for a unit on another vessel, as well.

19 Oct 2006

ABB Wins Azipod Propulsion Orders

ABB has signed contracts worth to supply Azipod propulsion, power generation and distribution systems for a total of eleven vessels. They are being built by Admiralty Shipyard, Aker Yards, Fincantieri, Meyer Werft and for Sovcomflot, MMC Norilsk Nickel, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Crociere and Holland America Line. Two Arctic shuttle tankers for Sovcomflot will be equipped with two 8.5 MW Azipod units with ice class LU6 according to Russian Maritime Register rules. The vessels will be built at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia and they will be designed to use the DA (Double Acting) concept. The ABB delivery also includes medium voltage generators, main switchboards, transformers, and frequency converters.

25 Apr 2001

BV Proposes 12,500 TEU Mega Containership

Bureau Veritas expects demand for container slots to double over the next decade, making current post-panamax containerships too small. revolutionary 12,500 teu containership design which it says would provide economies of scale and harness innovative technical solutions to providing more capacity. "There are nearly 15 major terminals which could accommodate this size of vessel," says Matthieu de-Tugny, product manager dry bulk and containers for BV. "There are several feasible technical solutions to developing such ships, which represent new designs, not simply extensions of current thinking. At capacities over 10,000 teu, conventional designs cannot be maintained. It is a challenge for the whole shipping industry.

01 May 2001

BV Proposes 12,500-TEU Mega Containership

Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) expects demand for container slots to double over the next 10 years, making current post-panamax containerships too small. Collaborating with Knud E. Hansen, BV has developed a revolutionary 12,500 teu containership design, which it says would provide economies of scale and harness innovative technical solutions to providing additional capacity. BV's mega containership would be constructed with a scantling draft of 47 ft. (14.5 m) and molded breadth of 178 ft. (54.2 m), carrying 15,523 teu on a deadweight of 152,000. The engine room and casings are positioned one quarter length from aft with the deckhouse forward of amidships, giving higher torsional rigidity, shorter shaftlines and better visibility from the bridge.

26 Jan 2000

Cruise Ship Designs Impact Terminal Operations

High-powered maneuvering systems and larger logistical features incorporated into today's new generation of cruise ships are causing seaports to take a close look at the infrastructures with which they are serving the industry. Management considerations related to terminal operations and logistics must first take into account the requirements posed simply by the increased size of some of the latest cruise vessels, such as RCI's Voyager of the Seas, Princess's Grand Princess, and Carnival's Triumph. In terms of implications related to vessel size, the first place impacted by the enormity of the megaships is the dock facility itself, which must be equipped to handle severe line loads necessary to hold their ship safely at berth.

03 Feb 2000

New Cruise Ship Designs Impact Terminal Ops And Logistics

High-powered maneuvering systems and larger logistical features incorporated into today's new generation of cruise ships are causing seaports to take a close look at the infrastructures with which they are serving the industry. Management considerations related to terminal operations and logistics must first take into account the requirements posed simply by the increased size of some of the latest cruise vessels, such as RCI's Voyager of the Seas, Princess's Grand Princess, and Carnival's Triumph. In terms of implications related to vessel size, the first place impacted by the enormity of the megaships is the dock facility itself, which must be equipped to handle severe line loads necessary to hold their ship safely at berth.