Company insight Azipod propulsion has revolutionised the marine industry with its unparalleled performance and reliability.
market leading for the highest ice class vessels, the global cruise industry, and is now transitioning into the naval sector – also allows Sætre and his colleagues to develop platforms that boast low operational costs. In a field like military procurement, where partnerships are often based solely on capital investments, and where the costs of maintaining a platform can rise to as much as $71m a year, such is surely worthwhile.
At the same time, these financial benefits can again be dovetailed with technical innovation. To give a specific example, the Azipod propulsion system can cut fuel consumption by around 20% compared to conventional shaftline technology, inevitably saving money for naval procurement officers. Power platforms, for their part, tell a similar story. Allowing vessels to distribute mains power at 1000Vdc, instead of 690Vac, DC systems can cut cable costs by up to 40%. Batteries and fuel cells are crucial here too. Easily integrated into onboard DC grids, they herald a future where officers can switch between fully electric and hybrid drive, cutting expensive fuel shipments even further, and just as well when marine fuel prices hit a record high in 2022. At the same time – and as the potential of electrification implies – Sætre is keen to emphasise the operational advantages of new technology. “By reducing your consumption, and assuming your fuel tanks have the same capacity,” he says, “you could also extend the range of vessels.” Just as
importantly, the simplicity of DC grids allows for the straightforward integration of the latest modular equipment, with Sætre suggesting that sophisticated future platform and mission systems could easily be installed and quickly integrated.
Given the longer lifespan of military vessels compared to their civilian counterparts – warships can sometimes be in service for three decades or more – such flexibility is particularly welcome. If nothing else, this is reflected in the range of military relationships ABB has honed over the years. The German Navy, the Spanish Navy and US Coast Guard are just some of the seaborne forces to work with Sætre and his team over recent times. Earlier this year, meanwhile, ABB announced it would be supplying the integrated power systems to four new anti-submarine warfare frigates, built by shipbuilding giant Damen Shipyards and destined for the Dutch and Belgian navies.
Efficiency and sustainability Amid these cost-cutting and operational advantages, the issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly salient across naval life. Sætre, for his part, has noticed this trend in his professional conversations right across the sector. This is clearly reflected in what stakeholders themselves are doing. In 2021, Nato announced ambitions to cut the alliance’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45% through 2030. Fortunately, ABB’s technical strengths can easily be angled in a sustainable
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
direction. To a large extent, these strengths are obvious. If, after all, a well-designed ship with an integrated electrical backbone can be more energy efficient and reduce fuel consumption, the environment will inevitably benefit. That’s echoed by specific tools. Linked to a vessel’s electrical system, ABB’s Power and Energy Management System (PEMS) automates a ship’s total energy resources effectively by optimising engine loading to the task at hand. However, one size does not fit all, the optimal power and propulsion system needs to be designed for the specific requirements. The future is to optimise systems for efficiency, without degrading operational intent. This is the main driver for transition into DC-based power systems and Azipod electrical propulsion. Beyond cutting a ship’s overall carbon footprint, this flexible approach equally hints at another truth: sustainability and capability don’t need to be in opposition. As Sætre puts it: “When you have equipment with increased efficiency, that would mean that you’d use less fuel. And when you use less fuel, you’ll also have lower emissions.” All the while, the adaptability of ABB’s technical spread means that navies can be prepared for future developments. With ever increasing regulation on local emissions, port authorities are pushing for greener solutions. For example, Sætre says that increasing onboard energy storage, or alternatively DC-based energy sources, will become more important and necessary to enable green port entry. And though the broader geopolitical picture remains unclear, the ABB executive once again emphasises that the technology’s adaptable core means ships can be ready for whatever happens. “We are not focusing on the specific military equipment which goes into a ship,” he stresses. “We are more focused on general needs – and can adapt to whatever is put into it. “However, modularity and ease of adapting new missions systems is increasingly important since a ship’s mission will change during its lifetime. There will always be new technology and new systems that would be needed, and we believe our Onboard DC Grid with its flexibility is a platform that makes integration of future systems easier.” Given everything ABB has achieved
already, it feels hard to disagree. ●
www.new.abb.com/marine
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