Photo: STX Europe
Azipod® system reduces fuel
consumption
A
BB’s Azipod systems are used in a wide variety of ships including luxury cruise vessels, yachts, ferries, drilling rigs, arc-
tic tankers, container vessels, offshore supply vessels and icebreakers.
ABB electric propulsion systems range from variable-speed
electric machinery to a unique family of highly efficient products.
The first Azipod propulsion system was completed in 1990.
The Azipod unit is fixed outside the ship in a pod, or casing,
which combines the functions of a propulsion motor, main propeller, rudder and stern thruster. These traditionally separately installed units are no longer needed, vacating space on board for
other purposes.
The Azipod system arrangement in a cruise vessel has been
shown to reduce fuel consumption by about 10 per cent when
compared to diesel-electric propulsion systems with a conventional shaft-line arrangement.
In 2002, ABB introduced the CRP Azipod. The CRP concept,
which stands for contra-rotating propeller, involves two propellers facing each other and rotating in opposite directions and is
achieved when an Azipod unit is installed in the place of the rudder in a conventional shaft line arrangement. It is most suitable for
fast ferries and other ships that need very large propulsion power. Two ferries built for ShinNihonkai, Japan's leading ferry operator, were equipped with the CRP Azipod in 2004. The company
reported fuel savings of 20 per cent, as well as 15 per cent more
transportation capacity, compared with ships of similar size using
diesel engines.
Azipod is the registered trademark of a family of electric propulsion systems for ships. The latest product in the range is the
most energy-efficient electric propulsion system on the market. ■
RISTO VALKEAPÄÄ
seatec 1/2009
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