300th Azipod for cable-laying vessel

The package will be installed on board the vessel currently being built at Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka for Orange Marine France, which now owns 15% of the world’s specialised cable laying and repair ships. The 100 metre vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2023, will feature a full power, propulsion and automation package from ABB and will support offshore wind farms.

This latest contract comes as ABB celebrates 30 years of Azipod. “We look forward to working with ABB on this highly advanced, modern vessel that will no doubt set new standards for cable ships in term of superior performance and eco-friendly operations,” said D.V. Abeysinghe, managing director and chief executive of Colombo Dockyard.

The vessel has been developed by Norway’s Vard Design, a Fincantieri Company, to meet specific priorities on power consumption and performance. The package includes twin 1.8 megawatt Azipod units and an ABB energy storage system enabling electrical power back-up using 500 kWh batteries controlled by ABB’s Power and Energy Management System.

Once in operation, the new Orange Marine vessel will accommodate 76 personnel and will be remotely monitored and supported by experts from ABB’s global network of ABB Ability Collaborative Operations Centers using ABB’s Ability Remote Diagnostics System.