Products & services

ABB wins long-term contract from Carnival to improve energy efficiency

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 17 April 2012 17 April 2012

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a long-term service contract from Carnival Corporation to maintain and upgrade ABB’s Azipod equipment over the next 15 years for 20 ships in their fleet, cutting costs by as much as $1 million a year per ship.

Carnival is the world’s largest cruise ship operator and has 20 cruise vessels with Azipod propulsion systems. ABB’s energy efficient Azipod uses less fuel than traditional systems, and provides better manoeuvrability in all operating conditions. The upgrades are projected to improve the already high energy efficiency of Azipod units by 2.5 to 4%.

"Customers in all industries are looking at ways to reduce overall lifecycle costs and make such costs more predictable, while continuing to improve equipment performance," said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. "We provide a full portfolio of services, including ongoing technology upgrades and dependable maintenance support to help extend the life of equipment, and ensure that it runs at the highest energy efficiency levels possible."

The service contract covers technology and energy efficiency upgrades for all Azipod systems and propulsion condition monitoring for all ships, and other system equipment maintenance. 

The contract includes technology upgrades such as the newly designed Azipod optimized fin shape, which receives water flow from the propeller at a new, less acute angle that redirects the flow more efficiently and Azipod Dynamic Optimizer, a software tool designed to control the pod toe angle, which provides even greater fuel savings for large vessels. 

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs some 135,000 people.

ABB supplies complete electrical and propulsion systems for TUI Cruises' newbuilding

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 29 March 2012 29 March 2012

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order to provide complete power plant and propulsion systems for the first new build ship for German cruise operator TUI Cruises. The ship is being built in Finland at the STX Europe yard in Turku.

TUI Cruises, a joint venture between German tourism company TUI AG and Royal Caribbean International, is increasing its passenger capacity to serve the growing sea vacation market in German-speaking markets. Shipbuilder STX Europe has worked with ABB on numerous marine projects; ABB’s ability to deliver energy efficient systems was a key decision driver in this project. 

ABB’s delivery will help the new ship maximize its onboard energy efficiency while providing a reliable power supply for all equipment and systems, as well as optimize its fuel consumption.

ABB will supply complete power plant and propulsion systems for the new ship, including medium voltage generators, main switchboards, propulsion transformers, propulsion drives, propulsion motors, thruster motors and ring main units for power distribution. ABB will also provide engineering, project management and commissioning services. 

“Our Marine business provides the industry’s most complete offering of systems and services to help any large vessel operate at top levels of energy efficiency, while providing the solid electrical infrastructure that ensures reliable operation of all onboard systems,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “ABB’s recent series of project wins in the cruise ship sector underscores the demand for state-of-the-art solutions and supporting services that help these ships operate at peak efficiency over their entire lifecycle.”

Deliveries for the TUI ship are scheduled to start in spring 2013, with commissioning scheduled for early 2014.

Lloyd Werft partners with Vogler Marine Agencies in North America

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 16 April 2012 16 April 2012

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven will have a stronger presence from now on in one of its most important core markets. Vogler Marine Agencies LLC, which has been one of the most successful international agencies since 1995, will represent all of the yard’s production sectors, not only in the USA but also in Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Costa Rica with immediate effect.

Lloyd Werft Managing Director Rüdiger Pallentin agreed on the co-operation with Don Vogler during the recent Cruise Shipping trade fair in Miami. Vogler has worked with his company in Flemington (New Jersey) since 1995. "There is hardly anyone more closely linked to the ship repair business as Don Vogler - a professional with many years of experience," said Pallentin.

In addition, Vogler is the exclusive representative of well-known manufacturers of ship equipment and also works closely with North American shipping companies – a combination which Rüdiger Pallentin hopes will have particularly positive benefits for Lloyd Werft. This concerns not only cruise shipping companies but also those companies operating container ships, vehicle transporters, bulkers and tankers and with which Vogler Marine Agencies LLC enjoys "an outstanding reputation." The new co-operative venture is being complemented by Sam Williams and his office in Houston (Texas), which mainly concerns itself with the offshore sector. This is a sector which Lloyd Werft itself has concentrated on for several years and is keen to expand further.

Vogler Marine Agencies LLC will in future represent Lloyd Werft’s entire production spectrum, not only including ship repair and conversion sectors but also new building and ship completion, sectors in which the yard has won a particularly good international reputation in the past few years. Rüdiger Pallentin said "we have gained a strong, new partner who will noticeably and significantly improve our presence on the North American continent."

Contact information for the new Lloyd Werft representation in the USA is as follows:

Vogler Marine Agencies LLC
20 Bartles Corner Road
Flemington, New Jersey 08822-5717
USA

Telephone: +1-908-237 9500
Fax: +1-908-237 9503
Mobile: +1-908-581 0900 (Don Vogler)
+1-908-500 2811 (Sam Williams)
e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

VIKING achieves an eight year track record of constant growth

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 28 March 2012 28 March 2012

Global success in the crucial offshore market and around-the-world export growth are behind yet another solid financial report from fast-expanding VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, which joins a long list of Danish exporters that are defying today’s economic difficulties.

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS: In 2011, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S, global manufacturer of safety equipment for the maritime, offshore and fire industries, continued its seemingly unstoppable and increasingly global expansion, lifting turnover and profits, and creating more than 200 new jobs.

Eight years of solid growth in a market that can be as turbulent as the seas for which its products are designed. That’s the glowing picture for the privately owned, Esbjerg-based company, which has moved from humble beginnings as a manufacturer of liferafts to its position today as the leading global solution provider of marine safety products and services.

Despite difficult market conditions, VIKING managed to achieve a record turnover of DKK 1.442 billion, representing an increase of some 14% in comparison with 2010. Operating profit was DKK 120.6 million, up 23% on 2010. The average number of employees climbed from 1397 in 2010 to 1557 for the 2011 fiscal year, with year-end staff numbers at 1646.

The 2011 market was influenced by increasing competition, accompanied by several consolidations. Markets were also affected by the European debt crisis. Pressure was particularly high in the Southern European market, traditionally a stronghold of the maritime industry. Reductions were felt, too, in the number of newbuilds, although this was countered by growth in the overall number of vessels in service and firm demand for replacement and servicing – both of which are key competencies for VIKING. 

Henrik Uhd Christensen, CEO of VIKING, points out “VIKING’s controlled diversification within the safety industry has allowed us to adjust appropriately to changing market conditions. It is our combination of a high quality product portfolio, a unique network and customized solutions that is difficult for our competitors to match.”

With the focus on being close to customers, the company is pursuing increased globalization via network expansion in all aspects of its operations. During 2011, for example, new locations and stock points were established at Port Klang, Malaysia; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Cairo, Port Suez and Alexandria, Egypt; Mersin, Turkey; Split, Croatia; Brest, France; Santos, Brazil and Colon, Panama. In addition to network expansion, VIKING has developed several unique products and services that raise safety standards, particularly for the offshore market. 

In recent years, much of the growth in the company’s service revenues has been provided by VIKING’s Shipowner Agreements: “Given today’s volatile markets, our customers are extremely keen on servicing contracts that help them to predict the costs of servicing their safety equipment without jeopardizing any important parameters. Development in these agreements during 2012 will bolster the phenomenal success we’ve had with our Shipowner Agreements to date. VIKING’s safety competence and 50 years of experience combined with the unique safety network and customized solutions simply make us a stronger global partner,” says VIKING CEO, Henrik Uhd Christensen. 

Coping with such rapid and constant growth calls for on-going adjustments to the company’s infrastructure – while sticking to the mission and values whose essence have made VIKING what it is today. In 2010, VIKING strengthened its internal organization, arranging global sales and services into six regions and relocating several of its production facilities. It also made an important strategic acquisition, acquiring former competitor HYGRAPHA Safety at Sea GmbH & Co. According to the company’s management, the 2010 restructuring has strongly supported the 2011 results.

While today’s market conditions could reasonably be expected to lead to a reduction in forecasted results for 2012, VIKING maintains a positive outlook, with growth continuing to be encouraged by positive developments in BRIC countries, in particular, assisted by further globalization and a strong offering in the all-important offshore sector.