ABB Azipod

2019: Submission of the Azipod system

On September 17, 2019 the ABB company, the world technology leader in the field of industrial automation and solutions for power provided end-to-end systems of a utilities equipment and electric motion for icebreaking courts. For September, 2019 more than 90 vessels of an ice class in the world are equipped with the propulsive Azipod system with the maximum power of 45 MW. The special technology of a propeller-rudder column (VRK) allows to overcome ice more than 2.1 meters thick and to work under trying conditions the Arctic without icebreaking maintenance.

The propulsive Azipod installations for the Russian companies locating courts of an ice class became a synonym of reliability and efficiency when transporting loads in waters of the North Sea long ago. The Monchegorsk container carrier – one of six Arctic courts constructed for Norilsk Nickel MMC became the first commercial vessel which made run there and back across the Northern Sea Route without the aid of the ice breaker. Among the Russian projects of ABB there is a fleet of Yamal LNG. Fifteen courts, each of which is equipped with the propulsive Azipod system with a power of 45 MW, are intended for transportation of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Yamal Peninsula located behind a polar circle and which is held down by ice the most part of year. The head vessel of the fleet – the Christophe De Margeri LNG tanker, PJSC Sovcomflot (SKF) belonging to shipping company of Russia, in 2017 set a record on passing of the Northern Sea Route, having overcome it in 6.5 days.

For September, 2019 8 Arctic shuttle tankers for transportation of oil, 7 multifunction supply vessels and the icebreaking Christophe De Margeri LNG gas carrier work in basins of the Barents, Pechora, Karsky and Okhotsk seas. In total on these vessels "SKF" on senbyar 2019 33 BPK Azipod is set.