Products & services

ABB to power New Zealand’s new generation rail-enabled ferries for Cook Strait

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 02 September 2026 02 September 2026

ABB has been selected as the power, propulsion and automation technology partner for two new Ro-Pax ferries, to be named Kupe and Cook, which form part of Cook Strait Ferry Replacement Programme, one of New Zealand’s most strategically important infrastructure investments1. ABB will supply the integrated systems required to ensure the reliability, efficiency and environmental performance of the two ferries. To be built by Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) shipyard, the ferries will be delivered to New Zealand Government entity Ferry Holdings Limited in 2029.

The 200-meter long, 28-meter-wide ferries will operate in the challenging conditions of the Cook Strait – Te Moana-o-Raukawa in Māori – at the junction of the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, making the 92-kilometer Wellington-Picton crossing between the North and South Islands. They will offer capacity for 63 percent more passengers (1,530 persons) and 44 percent more freight (2,400 lane meters) than their predecessors. The ferries are rail-enabled, allowing rail freight to be loaded directly onto the vessels, eliminating multiple cargo handling steps during inter-island transfers.

Critical for the national economy, these vessels will also deliver high fuel efficiency, lower emissions and reduced underwater radiated noise (URN) that aligns with the most forward-looking ferry projects in the world. Reducing URN has been prioritized to help protect marine life in the Marlborough Sounds, acknowledged in the DNV SILENT-E class notation.

“These ferries represent a key investment in New Zealand's transport infrastructure,” said Massimo Soprano, Ship Programme Director, Ferry Holdings Limited. “Selecting ABB gives us confidence that we will deliver vessels with world-class power, propulsion and automation technology. These systems are designed for the demanding conditions of Cook Strait and built to minimize environmental impact over their entire lifecycle.”

“Growing up on the shores of Lyall Bay in Wellington, I watched the ferries push out into Cook Strait in all conditions, wind, swell and everything in between. That image has stayed with me,” said Palemia Field, Global Segment Manager for Ferries, ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “That personal connection makes it even more meaningful to now be part of delivering vessels that will transform that crossing. They are quieter, cleaner, more reliable, and built for the next 30 years of New Zealand's growth.”

Combining efficiency and environmental responsibility, ship specifications include a fuel agnostic hybrid-electric power and propulsion plant. The 8.2 MWh battery energy storage system installed will support near-zero-emission harbor operations or a spinning reserve for 10 minutes. The power architecture also allows for the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to scale up to 12.3 MWh with further potential capacity to align with shore charging technologies when available.

ABB’s scope of supply includes four main alternators, as well as motors and drives for the three bow thrusters. Two Azipod propulsion units replace the predecessor ferries’ traditional propeller shafts, rudders and stern thrusters, delivering superior efficiency and a quieter, smoother ride. This is a meaningful improvement for passengers crossing the Cook Strait known for challenging and unpredictable conditions, strong tides and rough seas. The gearless, 360°-steerable Azipod units also give the ships outstanding maneuverability. The ships will be able to crab2 at 1 knot of speed in 40 knots of wind from any direction, far exceeding what the current fleet can achieve during port entry and departures in Wellington and Picton.

At the heart of the ships’ power architecture sits ABB's PEMS Power & Energy Management System, the intelligent ‘brain’ that continuously balances energy across the vessels’ generators, battery energy storage system, propulsion and auxiliary loads. Rather than managing these as separate systems, PEMS treats them as one integrated whole: automatically optimizing fuel consumption, enabling harbor operations on battery power alone, and maintaining power continuity in the event of a fault. This level of integration and built-in resilience ensures unmatched operational reliability. PEMS™ has proven this capability across multiple ABB ferry projects worldwide.

The system will be complemented with the ABB Ability Remote Diagnostic System (RDS) for continuous 24/7 monitoring and access to ABB’s global network of experts. The digital solution enables predictive maintenance, faster troubleshooting, and real-time operational insights, helping operators enhance vessel availability, reduce lifecycle costs, and ensure safe and efficient operations.

For ferries at the heart of New Zealand’s freight and passenger network, where an unplanned outage would have direct consequences for schedules, impacting rail connections and thousands of travelers, the ability to detect and resolve issues remotely before they lead to failures is a genuine operational differentiator.

MXP365 launches Babyphone Mobile App for family travel at sea

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 30 August 2026 30 August 2026

Families travelling with young children can enjoy greater flexibility onboard with the new MXP365 Babyphone Mobile App. The solution provides live video monitoring and notifications when their little one needs attention, allowing parents to enjoy more freedom throughout their journey.

Whether enjoying dinner, relaxing onboard, or giving their child a quiet space to rest, parents can easily check in from anywhere on the vessel using a secure connection on the ship's Wi-Fi, without requiring Internet access.

"With the MXP365 Babyphone Mobile App parents have more flexibility while onboard," said Haile Costner, Project Manager at MXP. "With secure live monitoring and notifications families can stay connected with their children.”

Evac completes ownership transition to Altor

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 31 August 2026 31 August 2026

Evac today confirms the successful completion of its ownership transition to Altor Equity Partners, first announced in December 2025. The transaction marks a strategic milestone for the company. Operations, customer commitments, contracts, and contact points remain unchanged.

Evac was previously owned by Bridgepoint, one of the world’s leading mid-market investors, and has now transitioned to Altor following the closing of the transaction.

Altor is a Nordic private equity firm founded in 2003, investing in mid-sized companies across the Nordics and DACH region with a focus on long-term value creation and sustainability.

“Our focus remains firmly on our customers. With Altor as our new owner, we are well positioned to further strengthen the value we bring to our customers and support their long-term success,” says Evac CEO Björn Ullbro.

Evac continues to operate under its well-known and trusted brands Evac, Cathelco and HEM.

Logian and Meyer Turku plan new logistics center in Blue Industry Park

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 28 August 2026 28 August 2026

Logian and Meyer Turku have signed a letter of intent to implement a logistics center of approximately 20,000 square meters near the Turku shipyard area in Blue Industry Park. Meyer Turku will act as the main tenant of the project. The goal is for the logistics center to be put into operation by the end of 2028.

The project is part of the comprehensive renewal of Meyer Turku's logistics. The goal of the new logistics center is to make warehousing and distribution logistics more efficient, improve the manageability and visibility of material flows, and strengthen delivery reliability and safety in the shipyard area. In the future, the center will serve as a hub for material flows entering production, where it can receive, combine and, if necessary, store materials from both Meyer Turku and, in the future, potentially also from partners.

“The world’s most demanding ships are built in Finland, and the maritime industry built around them is a hugely significant entity for the whole of Finland. It is wonderful to be able to do our part to enable this growth. For Logian, this project is a great example of how real estate development and functional logistics can concretely support the growth and competitiveness of Finnish industry," said Elsi Luhtanen, partner at Mrec Investment Management, which is responsible for Logian’s operations

“Building the world’s most advanced cruise ships requires a smooth and predictable supply chain. We are developing our logistics in the long term to support the yard’s competitiveness and future needs. The project is a significant step towards an even more integrated supply chain, where material flows can be managed as a whole together with our partner network. This creates a strong foundation for the yard’s operations in the future," said Ville Saksi, Deputy Managing Director of Meyer Turku.