Azipod propulsion milestone

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ABB’s Azipod propulsion has marked its 300th vessel milestone and 30 years in the industry.

Orange Marine ship

A 100m cable-laying and repair vessel for offshore wind farms being built by Sri Lanka-based Colombo Dockyard for Orange Marine will feature a full power, propulsion and automation package from ABB, including the landmark Azipod system.

“We look forward to working with ABB on this highly advanced, modern vessel that will no doubt set new standards for cableships in term of superior performance and eco-friendly operations,” said D.V. Abeysinghe, MD & CEO at Colombo Dockyard.

Twin 1.8MW Azipod units

Developed by Norway’s Vard Design, and due to be delivered by Colombo Dockyard in 2023, the vessel will join an Orange Marine France fleet.

The twin 1.8MW Azipod units have been selected to meet the shipowner’s requirements for high transit speeds with maximum fuel efficiency while providing 360-degree maneuverability to ensure station-keeping performance even in challenging weather conditions.

Also integral to the package is an ABB energy storage system enabling electrical power back-up using 500kWh batteries, which will reduce fuel consumption during cable work and ensure continuity in the event of an unexpected shutdown.

The overall power setup will be controlled by ABB's Power and Energy Management System (PEMS), which will also increase fault tolerance and provide a high degree of reliability while ensuring the maximum lifetime for the batteries.

By Rebecca Jeffrey