By
Rebecca Gibson |
ABB has signed a 15-year agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) to increase the predictability of maintenance costs for six of its ships.
The US$50 million agreement covers four Solstice-class ships in RCL’s Celebrity Cruises brand and two Oasis-class vessels in its Royal Caribbean International fleet, which all feature ABB’s Azipod propulsion technology. The contract also includes an option to extend the agreement to additional existing vessels, ships that are currently under construction and future newbuilds.
As part of the agreement, ABB will deliver a range of services that optimise the lifecycle of the vessels, such as scheduled drydock services, Azipod propulsion unit modernisations and condition-based maintenance services.
“Cruise segment customers are increasingly focusing on optimising the lifecycle of their fleets and investing in solutions that boost cost efficiency,” said Heikki Soljama, head of ABB’s business unit marine and cranes. “The service agreement with Royal Caribbean is a token of trust that we understand the needs of our customers and deliver tangible benefits, improving their profitability.”
RCL and ABB have been partners for more than a decade and the cruise company has selected ABB’s Azipod propulsion system for more than 20 newbuilds.
“ABB is a leader in its field and we are investing in its expertise through this relationship to help ensure the optimal lifecycle management of our ships,” said William Baumgartner, senior vice president of marine operations at Royal Caribbean International. “Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises lead their segments for the distinctive vacations we deliver. This is due largely to the dedicated men and women who deliver great service daily and also to our most innovative ships with cutting edge technology, strong brand image and cost discipline. ABB will help us keep our ships performing at their peak, minimise costs, and improve our overall profitability.”