ABB Marine &

Turbocharging
Training

BA INMT - 1 9/21/2005

06.04.05

Azipod Propulsion
History

Azipod Propulsion History

March 2005
2001

1 500 000 cumulative

Azipod operating hours
CRP Azipod introduction

1st Compact Azipod installation,

2001 Offshore supply vessel UT 745,
1st tacholess installation
2000
1999
1998
1995
1994
1993
1989
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1987

Compact Azipod introduction

1st fixi-pod installation, Voyager of the Seas

1st mounting block installation,

1st Azipod with fin, Europa.
1st Cruise Vessel application, Elation 2 x 14 000 kW

1st Icebreaker application Rthelstein 2 x 560 kW

1st Tanker application Uikku 11 400 kW
Prototype installation Seili 1 500 kW

Original Azipod Idea

Original Azipod idea

-1987-

The history of Azipod dates back to mid 1980s, originating from the Finnish
Maritime Administration. One can say that icebreaker OTSO is the mother of Azipod,
whereas the father is an engineer from the Finnish Maritime Administration (FMA).
When the engineer stood behind Otso during her dry docking, he looked at the vessel
bossings, which have to be quite broad because of the strenght demanded for this type
of ships of the propeller hub.
He contacted ABB (then Strmberg) and asked if it would be possible to build the
propulsion motor in such shape that it would fit into the bottom part of the vessel.
This lead to a development work between FMA, ABB and Kvaerner Masa-Yards
(then Wrtsil Marine), which resulted in a propulsion system, which we nowadays
know as Azipod . A patent for the Azipod system was given in 1987.
The origination of the Compact Azipod system resulted from the experience gained
in the Azipod propulsion. The traditional Azipod is feasible in high powers (> 5
MW ) for "normal" vessels and in lower powers for special vessels with high special
requirements e.g. icebreakers, multipurpose vessels etc. In the market there was,
however, a need for a more standardised and economical design for low power open
water units.

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The desicion for a compact system came up during fall 1999 after a market analysis.
Systematic development started later the same year. The product launch was in June
2000 and the first vessel started operation in November 2001.

Azipod Propulsion History

The principle of the Azipod

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Azipod Propulsion History

AZIPOD Breakthrough
AZIPOD propulsion
made breakthrough in the
passenger vessel market in
the 1990s.

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Excellent experience of:

reliability
manoeuvrability
efficiency
reduced vibrations
space savings
installation cost savings
Propulsion powers are
above 5 MW, typically 10
20 MW

AZIPOD concept entry into new markets

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Several deliveries for multipurpose vessels proved

AZIPOD concept to be
outstanding also for this
market

Seili (1,5 MW)

-1989

Prototype installation

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Azipod Propulsion History

Uikku (11,4 MW)

-1993

1st Tanker application

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Azipod Propulsion History

Rthelstein (2 x 560 kW)

-1994-

1st Icebreaker application

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Azipod Propulsion History

Elation (2 x 14 MW)

-1995-

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1st Cruise Vessel application

Azipod Propulsion History

Europa (2 x 6,65 MW)

-1998-

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1st mounting block installation

1st first Azipod with fin

Azipod Propulsion History

Voyager of the Seas (3 x 14 MW)

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-1999-

1st fixi-pod installation

Azipod Propulsion History

Compact Azipod Propulsion

2000

Power transmission
and steering module
Cable Drum /
Slipring unit
Steering
motors+Gear box
Assembly block
Strut Module
Motor Module

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Propeller
Azipod Propulsion History

Normand Rover (2 x 2,3 MW)

2001

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1st Compact Azipod installation

1st tacholess installation

Azipod Propulsion History

CRP Azipod Propulsion 2001 2004...

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First deliveries:
two fast
passenger/RoRo ferries
for Shin-Nihonkai

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Azipod track record, March 2005

Total cumulative operation hours: 1 500 000 h (March 2005)

Azipods delivered for 64 vessels

Number of delivered Azipod units operation: 143

On-hire time of vessels 99.78 %

(99.98% by discluding the figures before CARB shaft bearing
decision at 1st Sep 2001)

Vast majority of the offhire time is because of the Paradise

docking at year 2000

No problems in the rigidity or stiffness of the steel structure

Basic concept proven in harsh ice conditions

Cumulative Operating Hours of Azipod units

1 200 000
1 100 000
1 000 000
900 000

Operating hours

800 000
700 000
600 000
500 000
400 000
300 000
200 000
100 000

All vessels
Ice strengthened units
equal or above 1A Super

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

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Experiences at Shipyards with AZIPOD Units

Projects in 15 years with
18 different shipyards:
Unit power ranging from 500 to 20 000 kW
Different installation methods
Different construction schedules
Different scopes of delivery

The common goal of shipyards?

Standardised solutions
Minimised installation time

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The challenge:
Develop standardised solutions
flexible enough to fit the variable
needs and capabilities of shipyards.

Conclusions
Passenger &
other vessels

Passenger ferries &

cruise vessels

Ice-going vessel

Low speed operation

vessels, DP vessels

BA INMT - 19 -

AZIPOD

Cargo ships

Small vessels

Ocean-going cargo ships

Offshore vessels

Top speed operation

vessels

Low propulsion power

Low speed operation

vessels, DP vessels

Less manoeuvring in
operation

CRP AZIPOD
Power Rudder

Azipod is a registered trademark of ABB

Compact AZIPOD