Products & services

ABB Azipod hydrodynamic efficiency is improved again by more than 2%

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 23 November 2011 23 November 2011

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has announced that recent modifications to its Azipod propulsion unit frame design have seen hydrodynamic efficiency improved by more than two per cent.

The modifications include a newly optimized Azipod fin shape and a new pod cap structure, called Xtail. The revised fin structure receives water flow from the propeller at a new, less acute angle, and its new curved design redirects the flow more efficiently. The unit’s new X-tail, installed for the pod cap structure, straightens water flow on ejection from the Azipod propulsor, minimizing water swirling.

Royal Caribbean International's Radiance of the Seas was the first cruise ships to benefit from the new fin shape and X-tail. The modifications to Azipod were completed during her drydock in May 2011. Her sailings from May to September witnessed the benefits when compared to a sister vessel and her previous operational portfolio: more than 2 percent in hydrodynamic efficiency improvement was achieved.

Based on the positive result from the test, ABB will now include its new features in new Azipod XO units and provide refitted services to existing vessels equipped with older Azipod VO and XO units.

At the beginning of this year ABB together with Eniram introduced Azipod Dynamic Optimizer (ADO), a software tool which optimizes the Azipod toe angle. The tool has further improved unit efficiency and initial results from the trial installation on Holland America Line's Noordam indicate that 1.5 percent savings may be achievable on this vessel.

"Azipod propulsion has been in the market about 20 years and a lot of hydrodynamic improvements have been made during that time. However, from the hydrodynamic point of view the system still has a lot of potential. More new ideas will be studied, tested and applied to improve ship fuel efficiency," said Tomi Veikonheimo, chief hydrodynamist at ABB Marine.

When the Azipod propulsion system was first introduced to the cruise market in 1990s, around an eight per cent rise in efficiency was recorded compared to existing ships, in terms of shaft line efficiency. After that, step by step improvements were made to the Azipod shape, resulting in about another seven per cent efficiency improvement. Two years ago, when ‘next generation’ Azipod – Azipod XO units were launched, another two per cent improvement was achieved. Thus combining this to the recent improvements, Azipod hydrodynamic efficiency has totally been improved by more than 12 percent compared to the first cruise vessel application.

"The fuel efficiency improvements measured on Radiance of the Seas are welcomed reprieve in today’s higher fuel prices," said Anders Aasen, Associate Vice President of Technical Services for Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Cruises. "Any improvements we can make on fuel efficiency will serve us well for future operational costs."

"Azipod is one of ABB’s most recognized products, denoting the company’s energy efficient solutions for marine applications and offering up to 20 percent in energy savings. However, the pursuit of better efficiency, maneuverability, safety and crew comfort has never ceased," says Heikki Soljama, Global Head of ABB’s Business Unit Marine and Cranes.

To date, over 100 vessels have been equipped with Azipod propulsion units and more than 240 Azipod units have been delivered or are on order, accumulating about seven million reliable operating hours in demanding marine applications such as icebreakers, luxury cruise ships, research vessels, offshore supply vessels, drilling rigs, ferries and mega yachts.

Koja wins aircon order from Meyer Werft

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 23 November 2011 23 November 2011

Koja, the Finnish air conditioning specialist, says it has won an order to supply air conditioning systems from Meyer Werft in Germany to be installed on two cruise ships on order from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL) for its Royal Caribbean International brand.

The order, which is the biggest in the history of the company, also includes an option for two additional vessel. The contract includes basic and 3D design, all air conditioning equipment and planning of electrical and automation systems.

Koja says that its strategy to focus on developing energy efficiency of its products pla a crucial role in winning this order as both the shipyard and the owner regarded energy efficiency as key factor with regard which system they should opt.

The company points out that the now signed contract was an important step for it as it has now established itself on the German shipbuilding market.

Wärtsilä acquires Hamworthy

Details: Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 22 November 2011 22 November 2011

Wärtsilä Corporation, the Finnish engineering group, says it has reached agreement with the Board of Hamworthy plc , a UK listed engineering company focussed on the marine and oil and gas sectors, in regards to a recommended cash offer for the acquisition of Hamworthy.

Under the terms of the acquisition Hamworthy shareholders will receive 825 pence in cash for each Hamworthy share valuing Hamworthy's entire issued and to be issued share capital at approximately GBP 383 million. This represents an EV / LTM EBITDA multiple of 14.3x as per 30 September 2011. The acquisition is conditional on the approval by the shareholders of Hamworthy. The acquisition is expected to be closed during the first quarter in 2012. The acquisition is subject to relevant regulatory approvals in Germany and Norway.

Wärtsilä will hold a press conference today at 11:00 EET (9:00 UK time) in Helsinki, Finland. The press conference can be participated via webcast and teleconference. Please find details at the end of the release. Combining Hamworthy and Wärtsilä will allow both organisations to broaden and enhance their capabilities in rapidly evolving offshore, marine gas applications as well as environmental solutions markets. Both Hamworthy and Wärtsilä will benefit from technology sharing and optimised R&D to enhance position for the global marine and offshore markets.

Wärtsilä has a global footprint with operations in 70 countries across the world and significant financial scale, which will allow it to expand the geographic and customer reach of Hamworthy's products. Wärtsilä's extensive services network will support Hamworthy in its after sales activities.

Björn Rosengren, CEO, Wärtsilä Corporation, commenting on the acquisition, said: "We believe strongly in marine gas markets and the opportunities in the rapidly evolving environmental markets. Combining our resources with Hamworthy, we will be able to offer customers a broader portfolio of economically efficient, reliable and environmentally sustainable products and systems. We recognise the success achieved to date by Hamworthy and we are confident that our global presence, scale and resources will enable Hamworthy to accelerate its growth and exploit its full potential, particularly in the early stage environmentally sustainable technologies. We look forward to working with the management and employees of Hamworthy to combine our expertise and experience for the benefit of our customers around the globe as well as for the benefit of our shareholders."

Trimline secures soft furnishing return to Queen Mary 2

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 23 November 2011 23 November 2011

Southampton-based marine outfitters Trimline have been placed at the heart of a two-week refit of the Cunard liner Queen Mary 2 following an order to replace all the soft furnishings and carpets in the liner’s 1310 staterooms.

The programme marks a major repeat project for Trimline on the 150,000 ton liner, having originally been commissioned to supply all soft furnishings on the ship when she first entered service in 2004.

Trimline craftsmen have been regular visitors to the ship since her inaugural voyage, carrying out interior maintenance, and the latest project to manufacture over 6,000 separate items, will rank among the company’s biggest furnishings projects for established customer Cunard, part of Carnival UK.

Having worked alongside Swedish specialist Tillberg in the design phase, Trimline has procured some 25,000 linear metres of fabrics. Manufacture of curtains, cushions, valances and chair/sofa coverings is already underway, with the fabrics used determined by the type of stateroom, suite or penthouse.

Once complete, the furnishings are being shipped to Hamburg where the Queen Mary 2 will undergo a two-week refit at the Blohm and Voss yard later this month before returning to restart passenger operations from home port Southampton.

In addition, the Cunard flagship’s extensive makeover will entail Trimline laying some 17,000 square metres of new carpet throughout the passenger accommodation. Up to 70 Trimline personnel will work on the ship in Germany, completing the task as the ship returns to Southampton.

Trimline Sales and Marketing Director Mike Oliver explained: "In the same way that we supplied the original soft furnishings, this will match the biggest manufacture and fitting programme that we have undertaken and has already involved a major project management task involving our in-house specialists and suppliers. We have considerable experience working for Cunard, ranging from regular refurbishment work to large one-off projects, and this prestigious project will ensure that the highest standards are maintained on one of the world’s biggest liners."

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven adds agents in Scandinavia and Singapore to network

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 November 2011 11 November 2011

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, the German ship repair and conversion specialist that is a leading actor in the passenger shipping sector, adds agencies in Singapore and Scandinavia to its dozen strong network of agents.

Rüdiger Pallentin, Managing Director, explained: “In future we want to better market the whole range of our international capabilities with new people and new momentum and move closer to the international market.”

He added: “ in JML Shipyards & Marine AB in Fjällbacken in Sweden and Coway Marine Services in Singapore we have been able to attract real professionals to our corner, with many years of experience”.

The move also means that the established old Bremerhaven shipyard is making even greater efforts on behalf of ship and machinery repair and conversion in all their aspects - a hub sector of activity that goes back 154 years to the yard’s very beginning. However it is intended that newbuilding and the completion of ships, a sector that has won the yard a good international reputation in recent years, should also remain on the programme “if the opportunity presents itself, " Pallentin said in a statement.