Jukka Varis, Vice President Technology Azipod, Helsinki, August 30, 2011
Azipod® Energy Efficiency In Marine
Propulsion
Azipod® concept
Steering Drives
Cooling Air Unit
Slipring Unit
Steering Motor
Propulsion Module
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 2
Steering Module
Azipod® propulsion module
Shaft seal
Non-drive-end
bearing
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 3
Electric motor Drive-end bearing
Azipod vs. shaftline propulsion
Conventional dieselelctric propulsion
Azipod propulsion
Power plant concept, optimizing fuel consumption
4 Gens are on
-line
lineall
allthe
thetime
time
Gen 2
Gen 1
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 5
Gen 3 Gen 4
Gen 2
Gen 3
Gen4

The engines run at constant
speed and optimum
number of engines can be
selected to minimize the
specific oil consumption
Benefits in hydrodynamics
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 6

Pushing propeller

Uneven wakefield for the propeller due to
disturbances from hull, strut and shaft bracket

Added resistance from appendages such as
rudders, shaft brackets and stern thrusters

Optimum wakefield due to

Pulling propeller

Lack of shaft line and shaft brackets etc.

Location of the pod unit

Due to power plant priciple and lack of long
shaftlines there is freedom to optimize the hull form

No separate stern thrusters and rudders
Azipod® propulsion saves up to 15% fuel
Fuel savings in 2010 over 100’000 tons

Improved efficiency and reduced fuel
consumption

Typically improvement in hydrodynamic
efficiency about 10 -15 % compared to
shaftline systems

Total fuel savings depend on ship type,
power plant configuration and
operational profile
Total estimated savings of Azipod fleet
in 2010 were in the range of 100’000 –
150’000 tons of fuel oil
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 7

Better cavitation characteristics

Improved comfort due to reduced propeller
vibrations and noise levels
Azipod, Designed for improved safety
Comparison between cruise
vessel Elation (with Azipod) and
her sister Vessel (with shaftline)
The graph shows how the vessel
heading is changing from full
speed with full power after the
steering angle has turned to 35
degrees on Azipod vessel and to
40 degrees on sister vessel with
rudders.
Distance between the lines is
100m.
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 8
Azipod, Designed for improved safety
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 9

Generally crash stop distance
is about 60 – 70 % of the distance for equal
size shaft line vessels

Azipod vessel has its steerability over the
whole crash stop period

For twin Azipod vessels recommended to
make the crash stop by turning the pod units
35-45 degrees outwards until the speed
drops to about 15 knots. Then turn the pods
outwards around to 180 degrees (propellers
rotating continuously to the same direction)
Excellency in manoeuvrability
”The Azipods allow me to direct the power exactly where I want it,
giving me the confidence to manoeuvre within a decimeter of where
I want”
Captain William Wright, Master of Oasis of the Seas
Marine Propulsion and Auxiliary Machinery
Dec/Jan 2009/10
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 10
Superior operation in ice
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 11

Motor overtorque to match ice operation
needs

Full torque at low RPM

No need for a nozzle propeller

Suitable for bow first and stern first
icebreaking (DAS, Double Acting Ship)

Full torque available also in reverse RPMs
Azipod XO next generation - Main new features and
improvements
Easier access
to Azipod unit
Designed for extended
docking intervals
(min. 5 years)
Hydrodynamic
Efficiency improved
2-3%
Non drive end
hybrid bearing
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 12
Interspace seal
arrangement
Interspace - Revolutionary Shaft Seal Arrangement
(* ) depending on
frame size
Simple, robust and proven technology
Seal change possible inside the Azipod unit
Patent pending
Possible leak can be monitored
Bearing seals fully separated from sea
water seals
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 13
*)
Hybrid Bearing, innovation which combines the
advantages of two different types of bearings
Well known and proven
technologies
Thrust pad change inside
Azipod unit without
drydocking
Designed to be robust with
minimum maintenance costs
Non-drive-end radial
roller bearing
Slide thrust bearing
Redundant
lubrication
Patent pending
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 14
Efficiency development history
New developments
With yearly propulsion fuel oil consumption of 25 000 tons,
10% equals 1.25 MUSD/year
(assuming bunker cost 500 USD/ton)
Azipod XO development
New profile and geometry
optimisation for Solstice
and Genesis Class
New profile on strut
and fin on last vessels of
Voyager Class
>9%
Added fin
Radiance Class
First cruise liners
Elation, Paradise
First generation Azipod propulsion
7.5% - 9%
Fantasy Class Diesel electric conventional shaftline propulsion system
*) Compared to
reference diesel –
electric shaft line
cruise liner
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 15
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
Designed for fuel saving up to 20%! *)
2007
2009
2011
Azipod® Propulsion System benefits
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 16

Improved fuel efficiency and reduced life
cycle cost

Reduced emissions

Excellent manoeuvrability

Operational safety

Space savings, more cabin or cargo
space

No need for separate rudders, long
shaftlines and stern thrusters

Remarkably improved comfort onboard

Possibility to utilize smaller and
optimized power plant
Summary of Azipod references, May 2011
Vessel type
Azipod XO
Azipod XC
(CRP)
Azipod CO
Total delivered or on order:

233 Azipod® units

108 vessels
Total Propulsion Power: 2 400 MW
Installation at more than 30 different
shipyards
About 6.000.000 operating hours
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 17
Number
Cruise vessels
48
Ice going vessels
Ice breakers, Arctic cargo
vessels
27
Ferries
8
Yachts
7
Recearch vessels
5
Offshore support
vessels
5
Other special vessels
Pipe layer, Crane
vessel, Heavy lift, Patrol
vessel, WTI
6
Drilling rigs
2
World First Double Acting Tankers
Azipod enables to operate without ice-breaker
assistance

Double Acting Tankers
Mastera and Tempera

Owner:
Neste Oil Finland

Yard: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Japan

Single 16 MW Azipod propulsion

Ice Class 1A Super

© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 18
Azipod allows for independent operation in
heavy ice conditions
World’s First Vessels with counter-rotating Azipod
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 19

Two fast ferries Akashia and Hamanasu

Two Newbuildings

Owner:
Shin Nihonkai Ferry Company

Shipyard:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan

ABB deliveries: 2005 / 2006
2011

Azipod allows for 3.000 tons of fuel
savings per year

Azipod allows for speed of up to 31.5
knots
World’s Biggest Cruise Vessels rely on Azipod
Picture from STX
Europe
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 20

Cruise Vessels Oasis of the Seas and
Allure of the Seas

Owner:
Royal Caribbean International

Yard:
STX Europe, Finland

Each vessel has three 20 MW Azipod
units, generators, switchboards and
propulsion drives

Azipod allows for 4.500 tons of fuel
savings per year

Azipod allows to build such big cruise
vessels
New concept: Rudderpod™ CRP
Rudderpod strut
fixed to ship hull
Electric motor
M
Rudder


© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 21
Main engine (ME)
Potential for higher hydrodynamic efficiency

Continuous propeller hubs

Fixed position of both propellers
Ordinary rudder steering gear
© ABB Group
January 11, 2017 | Slide 22