ABB’s Azipod D to Power Scenic Eclipse

ABB’s Azipod D will power the luxurious 10-deck discovery cruiser Scenic Eclipse to some of the world’s most remote destinations.  Built to Polar Class 6 the vessel will have the ability to navigate the summer waters of Polar Regions.  The ship’s two 3 MW Azipod units will allow it to reach destinations previously off limits for large passenger vessels, taking advantage of the propulsion system’s track record of operating safely in every corner of the planet.

Juha Koskela, Managing Director of ABB’s Marine and Ports business, said, “Scenic Eclipse maintains the strong tradition of Azipod propulsion powering some of the world’s most innovative ships.  With our unrivalled pedigree in the passenger and icebreaking segments, we are able to meet the owner’s demands for a flexible and efficient propulsion system which can operate safely in all sea conditions.”

Azipod propulsion is integral to the majority of modern cruise vessels and Scenic Eclipse will take advantage of the unique characteristics of podded propulsion.  With the engine mounted outside of the ship, passengers benefit from a reduction in noise and vibration whilst the freed-up space can be used for other purposes.  In Scenic Eclipse’s case, this includes a submarine and 6 restaurants.

Scenic Eclipse will visit some of the world’s most pristine ecosystems and Azipod propulsion’s strong environmental credentials are in keeping with this spirit.  Azipod D’s gearless construction, high motor efficiency and advanced hydrodynamic design ensure fuel consumption is typically 10-15 % lower than with geared thrusters. Azipod propulsion’s long track record of reliability is also important for vessels operating in faraway regions, so far clocking up more than 12 million running hours since its first installation a quarter of a century ago.

Fitted with the technology that make Azipod propulsors the leading podded propulsion system, but with less installed power than other models, the Azipod D has gained traction in the market since its launch in 2015. Orders have already been achieved in the offshore sector whilst the Scenic Eclipse will be the first passenger vessel fitted with this model.

 “There is growing interesting in the Polar Regions from the passenger segment and recent orders have shown ship owners trust our solutions in these areas,” said Koskela.

Scenic Eclipse will be built by Uljanik Group in Croatia and is due for completion in 2018.  The vessel will have a capacity of 228 passengers (200 in polar regions) and 172 crew (182 in polar regions) with a total of 114  passenger cabins, the largest being 233 square meters.  The gross tonnage will be 16 800 with a length of 168 meters.