Compact Azipod order for Chinese survey vessel

ABB has signed a contract with the Chinese shipbuilder Jiangnan Shipyard to supply the electric power plants and Compact Azipod propulsion systems for a survey vessel being built for the State Oceanic Administration. The newbuilding is slated to start operating in South China in 2005.

The ABB deliveries to the survey vessel will include power generation, distribution and two PWM DTC-controlled Compact Azipod units rated at 1,860 kW each. The service speed of the vessels is in excess of 18 knots. Key issues in winning the contract were the excellent propulsion performance and system low life-cycle costs, as the efficiency of the total diesel-electric propulsion is high and maintenance costs are low. This will be the first State Oceanic Administration vessel with Integrated Electric Propulsion, Azipod propulsors and DP function.

This vessel has been designed by Marine Design & Research Institute based in Shanghai and will also be the first Azipod vessel designed in China.