Electrical Propulsion Systems News

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

A race is being run by nuclear scientists and ship designers. The prize? “Decarbonization’s” holy grail — believed to be a “small” thorium-fueled, molten-salt rector’s unlimited power to propel sea trade. At the same time, a recently revived discussion among leading marine-nuclear thinkers revolves now around how to put an ultra-modern, as-yet non-existent marine reactor aboard a modern commercial vessel. As with nuclear power generally, shipborne reactors produce national discussion first, then discovery.

Høglund Marine Solutions announced it will deliver integrated automation systems (IAS) for three newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels being constructed at at CIMC SOE shipyard for Canadian owner Seaspan ULC.The IAS will seamlessly connect the cargo handling, control and electrical propulsion systems on each of the 7600m3 ships slated to operate along the west coast of North America.A central, and standard feature of all Høglund automation systems, is Høglund Playback.

There's an “electrification of the seas” happening for navies around the world.Whether it's to achieve greater military capabilities, operational economics and efficiencies or to be better stewards of the environment.There's a trend moving from direct mechanical drives towards more flexible electrical propulsion systems. Ships can still have the same propellers and engines, but they now have a much more flexible power system architecture that benefits design, operations and sustainment.“With an electric propulsion system, we can connect to the same gas turbine or diesel.

Berg Propulsion has signed a key supplier and cooperation agreement to provide systems integration capability for Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch permanent magnet (PM) and power electronics products. The cooperation creates a new and combined force offering the robustness and efficiency of propulsion systems where electric motors directly drive the propeller shaft, consolidating Berg’s growing presence in electric propulsion.“This is the latest step in Berg’s strategy to become a fully-fledged electrical propulsion systems integrator,” said Stefan Sedersten, CEO, Berg Propulsion.

GE’s Marine Solutions has once again been selected by MSC Cruises and Fincantieri to provide the marine electric propulsion technology for two new Seaside EVO ships, further driving the evolution of the Seaside Class next-generation mega cruise ships.This follows the delivery of the first and second ship – MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview – in the Seaside Class by the Fincantieri shipyard of Monfalcone.With a gross tonnage of 169,400 GT and a total guest capacity of 5,632, Seaside EVO ships will be the largest cruise ships ever built by the Fincantieri shipyard. The two ships will adopt a range of innovative design features and maritime technologies…

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that the total ridership of marine transit modes in Dubai has clocked 7,182,435 riders during the first half of this year. Abras (boat) accounted for the biggest number of commuters ferrying as much as 6,867,348 riders. “Serving 7,182,435 riders in six months by marine transit means is indicative of the public uptake of marine transit modes, which offer users enjoyable and convenient rides,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency. “Abras, be it traditional, electrical or air-conditioned, have accounted for the biggest share of ridership by ferrying as much as 6,867,348 riders in the first six months of this year.

Canadian engineering firm Aspin Kemp and Associates Inc. (AKA) and German based engine and turbomachinery market leader MAN Diesel & Turbo SE have finalized an agreement between the two companies whereby MAN Diesel & Turbo steps in as a 40 percent shareholder in AKA. Through this new partnership, AKA said it will look to build its innovative potential with MAN in a broader market for power and energy solutions. Company co-founder Jason Aspin remains a controlling shareholder and CEO of AKA. Co-founder Neale Kemp has retired from active business operations.

Norwegian explorer cruise line Hurtigruten is to build two new expedition ships using a new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology from Rolls-Royce making fully electric propulsion on a passenger ship possible. The Rolls-Royce designed MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, about to be constructed at Kleven Yard in Norway, will be packed with innovative Rolls-Royce technology. In addition to the hybrid power solution, the vessels will have the latest automation and control systems…

Azipod XO propulsion units will power two new vessels that Meyer Werft will build for Norwegian Cruise Line. ABB has been awarded a contract worth $60 million to deliver Azipod propulsion and power systems to two Norwegian Cruise Line vessels. The Breakaway-Plus class cruise ships will be built by Meyer Werft of Germany and delivered in Q2 2018 and Q4 2019. The new 164,000 gt vessels will be equipped with ABB's Azipod XO electrical propulsion systems, which are already featured on several of Norwegian Cruise Line’s new vessels, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway as well as the larger Breakaway-Plus class ships, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss, currently under construction at Meyer Werft. ABB will also deliver complete electric power plants, generators and drives to the ships.

ABB has won an order to deliver complete electric power plant, electrical propulsion systems and an energy management solution for Estonia-based Tallink Grupp´s new liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered fast ferry. The large-scale ferry will be built at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland for delivery in the beginning of 2017. The vessel will be about 212 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 49,000. The ferry, planned to carry 2,800 passengers, will operate between Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

ABB announced that it will deliver advanced electrical propulsion systems for four LNG carriers under construction by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. The LNG vessels are a joint venture between China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited (CLNG) and Teekay, and will operate under 20-year time-charter contracts with Methane Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BG. LNG carriers are highly sophisticated in terms of technology and are specially designed to transport LNG at a low temperature of minus 162 degrees Celsius. They are regarded as the “super freezer cars of the sea” and “the pearl on the crown” in the world shipbuilding industry.

Approval in principle confirms Onboard DC Grid’s suitability for marine application. The new system supports the growth of electrical propulsion systems onboard ships. ABB, a power and automation technology group, was granted Approval in Principal (AIP) for the Onboard DCGrid power distribution system by classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). To be granted the AIP, the Onboard DC Grid was subject to a series of risk assessment techniques to determine if the concept provides acceptable levels of safety in line with current marine industry practice, requirements and standards. The AIP now granted by ABS is a strong tool to support and streamline the design, approval, execution and inspection of new projects.

Maritime training provider Seagull announced the release of nine new eLearning titles. The fourth quarter release includes titles covering Electrical safety, Galley operations – nutrition, Nutrition and well-being – awareness, Electric propulsion – electrical machines, Electric propulsion – power electronics, Electric propulsion – electric propulsion systems for ships, Marine environmental awareness – sustainable shipping, Enclosed space entry – awareness and Shore based assessment. Fatalities and major incidents related to enclosed space entry continue to fuel the urgent requirement to increase crew awareness and Seagull has addressed…

ABB, a power and automation technology group, has won an order to provide integrated solutions that include the electrical propulsion system, Azipod CZ and automation system onboard two offshore accommodation vessels. The 1+1 accommodation vessels will be built by COSCO (Nantong) Shipyard Co., Ltd for Singapore-registered owner Logitel Offshore, which is a subsidiary of Norwegian company Sevan Marine. The cylinder-shaped vessels will each have a displacement of about 40,000 metric tons and capacity to accommodate 490 persons.

GE signed an agreement with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) to help improve the capabilities of the shipping engineering community in China by providing laboratory facilities and cooperating on research and innovation projects. SMU is a multidisciplinary university that encompasses such areas as engineering, management, economics, law, liberal arts and science, with a special emphasis on shipping technology, economics and management. SMU is one of the leading universities in China and is dedicated to marine and related disciplines…

ABB say its Onboard DC Grid will receive a 'Spotlight on New Technology Award' at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) May 6-9, 2013 in Houston. The awards honor innovative technologies for the oil and gas industry and related energy sectors that have the potential to significantly impact offshore exploration and production. Designed for a wide range of vessels, ABB’s Onboard DC Grid is a highly efficient power distribution, automation and electric propulsion system that significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 20 percent and space needed onboard for electric equipment by up to 30 percent. Different from traditional electrical propulsion systems…

Mastervolt has invested in a major new research laboratory to drive forward its quest for ever more efficient electrical generation and propulsion systems. This will greatly assist the company in further developing its extensive range of hybrid and electrical drives for boats, with longer ranges and an even greater ability to regenerate underway. Now part of the American Actuant Group, Mastervolt has access to a wide range of new – and previously competing – power products, especially within the mobile…

Power systems specialist Rolls-Royce now derives nearly $1.5 billion of total annual sales of $8.7 billion from the marine market, and an important element of its growth strategy in the marine domain is the development of its electrical capabilities, products and technology. The increasing use of electrical drives and other sub-systems, and a move towards highly automated, integrated shipboard networks, is evident in both the commercial and naval sectors, in the technology-intensive, specialized vessel categories which form the group's heartland business areas. The success of electrical power and propulsion systems in application to high capacity cruise vessels has proved to be one of the most significant technological developments in commercial shipping over the past decade and a half…

Siemens is closing the gap between large merchant vessels and small recreational or commercial crafts traditionally powered by mechanical propulsion solutions with the introduction of one, unified platform that combines traditionally disparate on board systems. The company’s new ELFA propulsion solution merges normally stand-alone systems (power management, motors, thruster, auxiliary generators, batteries, monitoring and control) into a truly integrated, space saving solution. By integrating communications with the power supply, the ELFA propulsion solution can considerably reduce fuel consumption and enhance range, maneuverability, availability and redundancy. As the world’s first company to electrify a ship in 1879, Siemens has a long history in marine technology.

for 19 new vessels being built in Europe and Asia. vessel and one light well intervention vessel, all to be built in Norway. vessel from Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction of Korea. South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. • drilling drive packages for one jackup rig and three drill ships to be built in Singapore and Korea. propulsion, medium-voltage generators, main switchboards, frequency converters, transformers, and bow thruster motors. The vessel will be built by Meyer Werft of Germany.

ABB has been awarded contracts worth $110 million to supply electrical power systems for twelve vessels and five offshore drilling rigs. • Total electrical power system packages for two semi-submersible drilling rigs for subsidiaries of Jon Fredriksen controlled SeaDrill Ltd (Subsea Drilling (III) Ltd and Subsea Drilling (IV) Ltd). The rigs will be built at South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, based on a GVA 7500 design with the first rig delivery in early 2008. • Total electrical power system package for one semi-submersible drilling rig for PetroRig I Pte Ltd/PetroMena ASA under management by Larsen Oil & Gas.

ABB has been awarded contracts worth $140 million to supply its Azipod® propulsion systems for three vessels and electrical power systems for 11 vessels and two semi-submersible drilling rigs. Six 10 Megawatt (MW) Azipod propulsion units for three Arctic shuttle tankers being built for Russia’s Sovcomflot at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea for delivery between 2007-2009. The order also includes main generators, main switchboards, propulsion transformers, propulsion drives and propulsion and remote control systems from ABB. One drilling vessel for Norway’s Mosvold Drilling, also to be built at Samsung Korea. The ABB scope includes generators, thruster motors, main switchboards and transformers.