ABB has signed a 15-year service agreement with Royal Caribbean Group, which has a global fleet of 67 cruiseships across its five brands, deepening a long-standing partnership to support the company’s ship performance and decarbonisation goals.
Covering 33 existing ships, the comprehensive agreement includes preventive maintenance and digital solutions to support and optimise propulsion operations, improve vessel safety, maximise fleet availability, and ensure fast turnaround times for planned Azipod propulsion servicing.
Juha Koskela, President, ABB’s Marine & Ports, said: “Our collaboration with Royal Caribbean Group spans nearly three decades, beginning with the installation of Azipod propulsion on one of the world’s largest cruise ships at the time. Since then, we’ve partnered on numerous pioneering projects. This service agreement marks an important milestone in our journey together and highlights the critical role of ABB’s solutions in modernising and maintaining the performance of one of the world’s most innovative cruise fleets.”
Palle Laursen, Royal Caribbean Group EVP and Head of Marine, added: “This agreement exemplifies how a shared commitment to innovation can unlock new opportunities to improve progress toward ship performance goals.”
From its creation over three decades ago to its position in shipping today, Azipod propulsion is claimed to have revolutionised marine transport by delivering gains for performance, efficiency, sustainability and reliability. The gearless, steerable propulsion system, with the electric drive motor in a pod outside the ship’s hull, can rotate 360 deg to increase vessel manoeuvrability and efficiency, while cutting fuel consumption by up to 20% compared to conventional shaftline systems. Since the first installation on a cruise ship over 25 years ago, Azipod technology is estimated to have saved more than 1m tons of fuel in the cruise segment alone.
Image: ‘Icon of the Seas’ (credit: Royal Caribbean Group)
