TANKER UNDER RETROFIT FOR ARCTIC SERVICE GETS NEW PROPULSION DESIGN

The world's largest azimuthing propulsion drive will be installed on an oil tanker under retrofit for arctic service by a Finnish shipyard. And plans call for the drive's installation on four 135,000 cu m LNG carriers. The 11.4-mw (15,275 hp) Azipod azimuthing electric propulsion drive is being installed on Nemarc's 16,000 dwt arctic tanker M/T Uikku (Fig. 1). Nemarc is a shipping company formed by Neste Oy and Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc., Helsinki.

July 26, 1993

2 min read

The 11.4-mw (15,275 hp) Azipod azimuthing electric propulsion drive is being installed on Nemarc's 16,000 dwt arctic tanker M/T Uikku (Fig. 1). Nemarc is a shipping company formed by Neste Oy and Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc., Helsinki.

Modernization of the retrofitted tanker will begin in August at Kvaerner Masa-Yards' Helsinki yards, according to the company, with delivery by yearend. The LNG carriers are scheduled for delivery from the company's Turku yards during 1996-97.

DEVELOPMENT

The new propulsion system was jointly developed by Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc. and ABB Stromberg Drives Oy. A 1.5-mw prototype was installed in late 1990 on the Finnish waterway service vessel Seili.

The major difference between the Azipod system and traditional Z-type thrusters, say the companies, is that the Azipod's propulsion motor is an electric ac synchronous motor located inside the azimuthing unit.

The motor drives a fixed-pitch propeller and is speed-controlled (0-100%) by a cycloconverter.

The system's compact design eliminates conventional shaft line and rudders and the need for stern thrusters or controllable-pitch propellers and reduction gears.

The rotatable Azipod drive enables full power thrust in any desired direction, according to Kvaerner Masa-Yards and Abb Stromberg.