[ 39 ] SHIPBUILDING A TRUE PIONEER ABB provided the solution to the world’s first diesel electric ship in 1903. Since then, ABB’s contribution to the marine industry has focused on solutions that optimise efficiency. The introduction of the Azipod® propulsion system in 1990, for example, allowed ship designers to reconsider internal layouts of ships to double acting ships that could travel through the Arctic with minimal icebreaker support. The podded propulsion system relies on an electric motor, the simplest motor of all, requiring no oxygen to operate and generating zero exhaust. As long as electricity can be supplied, the motor can be placed virtually anywhere on a ship — or in the case of Azipod® propulsion, not on the ship at all, but under it. This, in turn, allows the propeller to be connected directly to the motor instead of via shaft lines or mechanical drive trains. Together, these features allow the motor and propeller to be rotated through 360 degrees, pulling the ship in any direction, providing the revolutionary manoeuvrability that has made the performance of Azipod® propulsion a new benchmark for the marine industry. Electrical power minimises engine noise and vibration as well, ensuring a smoother, quieter ride. Demand for Azipod® propulsion continues to grow in the global ferry industry, building on success from early installations and inspired by commitments from shipowners dedicated to moving passengers and vehicles in the greenest possible way. A ferry or a ro-pax design with the inclusion of the new Azipod® series offers several advantages compared to a conventional shaftline-rudder propulsion system: ❱ Faster port approaches and departures ❱ Improved on-time performance of sailings ❱ Better resilience to weather ❱ More payload and more room for alternative energy sources ❱ Lower energy and fuel consumption ❱ Competitive vessel newbuild price ❱ Improved passenger comfort ❱ Improved operational safety. THE ADVANTAGES OF PODDED PROPULSION Responsible for moving around 4.27 billion passengers and 373 million vehicles every year, ferry owners worldwide are increasingly choosing Azipod® electric propulsion systems. Performance provided by 360-degree rotating podded propulsors, high reliability and reduced fuel consumption are all key factors behind the move. Additionally, lower vibration and the flexibility of design allowed by locating propulsion motors outside, rather than inside the hull, prove compelling for ferry shipowners. Extreme weather conditions can pose challenges during docking or approaches in tight fairways. The ability to use full thrust from the main propellers in any direction improves control of the ship in extreme wind conditions, as well as the crabbing capability of the vessel. Better resilience to weather improves on-time performance and allows the schedule buffer to be reduced. Time saved can be further used to decrease the maximum ship speed in transit or to increase the number of sailings per day. Decreasing maximum ship speed reduces fuel costs (OPEX) and enables a lower installed power requirement and cost for newbuilds (CAPEX).
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