Hybrid awards

Launched in 2014, the awards champion the best in technology and innovation in the electric and hybrid marine sector.

An international jury panel of 38 maritime journalists, marine industry experts and academics from 17 countries including Maritime Journal’s Editor, decided the winners in each of five categories.

Beating off fierce competition from Visedo Marine, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, FSV Group and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Norled won the coveted Electric & Hybrid Propulsion System of the Year award for its Ampere vessel, the world’s first emission-free electric-powered large passenger/car ferry.

The electric car ferry entered into operation on the Lavik to Oppedal crossing on the Norwegian west coast in early 2015. It is driven by two Siemens BlueDrive PlusC electric motors, powered by lithium-ion batteries supplied by Corvus Energy. The zero-emission vessel travels the fjord 34 times per day, taking 20 minutes to make the 6km crossing.

It was ABB Marine’s latest addition to its line of Azipod thrusters that most impressed the judges in the Innovation of the Year category. Azipod D is a gearless propulsion system designed for cruise vessels, icebreakers, ice-going cargo vessels and offshore accommodation ships. It accommodates a wide range of hull shapes and propeller sizes and requires up to 25% less installed power, partly due to the fact that the new hybrid cooling increases the performance of electric motors by up to 45%. “We are delighted that our contribution to the further expansion of electric propulsion is recognized as Innovation of the Year. The flexibility that electric propulsion provides is key to future success in shipping, and therefore it is easy to understand why electric propulsion is growing many times faster than the world’s fleet,” said Heikki Soljama, Managing Director for ABB’s marine and ports business.

ABB Marine picked up its second gong of the day – and its third trophy in two years – by retaining the Propulsion System Manufacturer of the Year award. Enjoying a lucrative 2014, the Switzerland-headquartered company booked a record number of orders for electric propulsion systems for 90 vessels in total. The success of the Azipod electric thruster range also resulted in ABB Marine opening a new assembly factory in Finland, specifically for the product.

The Chief Engineer of the Year award went to Magnus Eriksson, co-founder and technical COO of Echandia Marine, for the instrumental role he played in the development of the world’s first supercharged electric passenger ferry in Stockholm, Sweden.

In the final category, the Supplier of the Year title went to Corvus Energy.

By Jake Frith