Power and automation technology group ABB has delivered four Azipod C propulsion systems for the Blue Ocean II Wind Turbine Installation Vessel, built by Samsung Shipyard in Korea, signalling improved manoeuvrability and transportation flexibility for the vessels.
The two Wind Turbine Installation Vessels Samsung built will be delivered to Singapore based offshore oil and gas industry service provider Swire Pacific Offshore Operation. In total, ABB has provided eight Azipod C propulsion systems for the two vessels.
ABB’s compact Azipod C marine propulsion system saves space inside the vessel hull for more efficiency in ship design and equipment placement, and can help reduce vessels’ fuel consumption by 25% while improving their manoeuvring capabilities. The enhanced manoeuvrability will help the Blue Ocean vessels operate in a wider weather window, providing more flexibility in the transportation and installation of offshore wind foundation materials and turbines of all types and sizes.
The Azipod systems for these projects were delivered from ABB’s new Azipod C factory in Shanghai, China, which was established in 2011 to serve customers in the Asian region.
“The Azipod C factory in Shanghai helps to meet the fast-growing demand of the Chinese shipyards for high-end vessels, at the same time, allowing ABB to get closer to customers of other key shipbuilding markets like Japan and South Korea,” said Heikki Soljama, Global Head of ABB’s Marine and Cranes Business Unit.
Within one year of opening the factory, ABB realized the goal of delivering the China quality abroad. The Blue Ocean vessels are the pilot projects to be delivered outside China; the Blue Ocean II project completed installation in July, 2012.
