ABB has won a contract to supply integrated power, automation and propulsion systems for its Boreas jack-up vessel, CIMC Raffles Ocean Engineering Co., LTD. The vessel is expected to be one of the most high-tech vessels on the market and is expected to be delivered to the owner, Dutch maritime contractor Van Oord, in the second half of 2024.
ABB has won a contract to supply integrated power, automation and propulsion systems for its Boreas jack-up vessel, CIMC Raffles Ocean Engineering Co., LTD. The vessel is expected to be one of the most high-tech vessels on the market and is expected to be delivered to the owner, Dutch maritime contractor Van Oord, in the second half of 2024.
Van Oord jack-up offshore wind power installation vessel
As an industry leader in the global offshore wind market, Van Oord has been in the wind turbine installation business since 2002. By the end of 2020, its total installed capacity of renewable energy wind turbines will reach 14.5 gigawatts, accounting for 40% of the global installed capacity. The 175-metre Boreas under construction will be one of the largest and most advanced hybrid jack-up wind installations in use today. With a lifting weight of more than 3,000 tonnes, it will be equipped with 126m high pile legs, with a maximum operating water depth of 70 metres and the ability to install offshore wind turbines of up to 20 megawatts (MW).
"Any ship project involving dynamic positioning, especially jackups, requires system suppliers with expertise and knowledge and a proven portfolio of integrated power and propulsion systems," said Harold Linssen, Project Director at Van Oord. "Having worked with ABB in the past, we know that ABB can not only meet all these requirements, but also provide global support during the project and throughout the ship's life cycle." We look forward to deepening our partnership with ABB on this project to shape the future of offshore wind installations."
"ABB is a long-term partner of the shipyard, and we believe that the Van Oord jack-up installation ship project will further strengthen our relationship," said Sun Shiyan, Director of the Supply Chain Management Center at CIMC Raffles Shipyard in Yantai. "In addition, the ease of installation of the Azipod® system was another key factor in our decision to sign the contract with ABB. The installation can be completed by simply attaching pre-assembled equipment to the hull, saving a lot of time and effort during construction."
Boreas will be equipped with four sets of Azipod® thrusters with a total propulsion power of 16 MW, which will significantly save onboard space and weight, optimize the ship design, and increase the ship's payload capacity. In addition, ABB's hybrid electric propulsion system also integrates various new energy sources according to demand to enhance the future development potential of the ship.
ABB's integrated systems also include closed-loop configurations for safer, more efficient and predictable operations. In addition, ABB energy storage can also be used as a backup power source through rotary backup and peak balancing functions, reducing host uptime and significantly reducing wear and fuel consumption.
Van Oord also has access to continuous remote equipment monitoring from the ABB Ability™ ship remote diagnostic system, optimising mechanical and planned maintenance and reducing operational costs. Improve performance management, predictive maintenance and range optimization with the ABB Ability™ OCTOPUS Marine Advisory system.
"With our extensive experience in the offshore jack-up market and our ability to tailor products and solutions to the requirements of shipowners, operators and shipyards, we are proud to have won the Boreas power and propulsion system order," Rune Braastad, global Head of Ship systems at ABB's Marine and Ports division, commented: "This project further demonstrates that our total package of power, energy storage, automation, control and digitalization solutions are fully aligned with the future sustainability of ships."
The Azipod® propulsion system is a gearless, full-rotary propulsion system with motors located in underwater pods outside the hull. The Azipod® thrusters can turn 360 degrees, greatly improving the ship's maneuverability and operational efficiency, reducing fuel consumption by up to 20% compared to conventional shafting systems.
