Ferry life extended with propulsion retrofit
The Finnish passenger ferry M/S Suomenlinna II has been retrofitted with new drive technology that will extend its life for years to come.
The 33.8m ferry, built in 2004, serves a UNESCO world heritage site – the Suomenlinna sea fortress on the coast of Helsinki – and is considered an intrinsic part of the Helsinki public system.
The 395-passenger capacity vessel makes multiple daily crossings and its ACS600 drive is now obsolete, although existing cabinets, busbars and cables can be repurposed to avoid replacing them.
Technology firm ABB will deliver a module-based retrofit that only replaces components if needed, rather than the complete system. The company has transitioned the outdated onboard drives to ACS880LC with minimal impact on the ferry’s operating schedule, it says. ABB will also supply the ferry with service support throughout the product lifecycle.
“The module-based retrofit, replacing components only as necessary, shows one way our customers can improve the circularity of their operations – while ensuring a smooth and efficient upgrade to the latest technology,” said Ilmari Ackley, head of Sales, Marine Service & Digital, Finland, ABB Marine & Ports.
“ABB’s ability to provide a module-based retrofit as opposed to a full system replacement was a key factor for us in selecting a partner for this modernization project,” said Petri Öhrmark, managing director, Suomenlinnan Liikenne Oy. “Thanks to this upgrade, it can continue providing reliable, high efficiency services to residents, as well as tourists visiting the heritage site, for years to come.”
