Azipod Retrofit for Mega-crane Vessel
Retrofitted vessel will feature five Azipod propulsion units, including for the first time two retractable thrusters
Power and automation technology group ABB will supply the entire electric system to provide power throughout the vessel and five Azipod propulsion units for the 175-meter long Chinese mega-crane vessel, Hua Tian Long. It has a gross tonnage of approximately 42,500 and is one of the largest salvage vessels in Asia. The new retractable Azipod units, installed on a vessel for the first time, will bring a range of additional benefits, including entering shallow harbors and dry-docking without need of thruster removal.
Azipod propulsion is a gearless steerable propulsion system rapidly gaining market share where the electric drive motor is in a submerged pod outside the ship hull, resulting in reduced fuel consumption by up to 20 percent and decimeter accurate maneuverability, according to ABB. The propulsion solution allows for simple integration into existing hulls, making it suitable for retrofits such as the Hua Tian Long project.
The power and diesel electric system package will consist of medium-voltage switchboards including power management systems, generators, transformers, frequency converters, motor and the Azipod thrusters.
The vessel will be retrofitted at You Lian Dockyards (Shekou) Limited, in China, and is scheduled to be delivered back to the customer at the end of 2016. The vessel will operate in the offshore fields around the world.