Azipods for five newbuildings

ABB has signed contracts worth some $80 million to supply its Azipod propulsors, electrical power and automation systems for five new ships.

“These orders reinforce the benefits of integrated ABB solutions for improving passenger comfort, manoeuvrability, availability and operational costs,” said Dinesh Paliwal, head of ABB’s Automation Technologies division. “We are delighted by the confidence of both our established customers and two new marine customers in China and Russia.”

Royal Caribbean’s second Ultra Voyager vessel will be built at Kvaerner-Masa yards in Finland, with delivery set for spring 2007. ABB will supply three 14 MW Azipod units, one fixed and two azimuthing at the stern. In addition, ABB will provide a marine power plant consisting of six main generators, main switchboard, four bow thruster motors and 18 transformers.

Two train ferries for delivery to Sinorail Bohai Train Ferry will be built at Tianjin Xingang shipyard in China, and will be the first such vessels to operate in Bohai Bay in the northeast of the country. ABB deliveries include a medium-voltage power plant with four generators and Compact Azipod units rated at 4 MW each. The ferries are scheduled for delivery in June and December 2006.

An Arctic container vessel for Russia’s Norilsk Nickel to be built by Kvaerner-Masa Yards to carry minerals on the northern sea route to Murmansk and designed to Russian Maritime Register ice class LU7, will be equipped with one 13 MW Azipod unit, ABB medium-voltage power generation and distribution systems. Delivery is scheduled for early 2006.

Finally, the new cruise vessel for Carnival Corporation will be equipped with two 17,6 MW Azipod units and medium-voltage power systems. The vessel will be built by Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.