20:
158:
278:, was delivered by Kværner Masa-Yards Helsinki shipyard in the spring of 1998. Even though the Azipod was initially developed for icebreaking vessels, cruise ships have become the largest group of ships by type to be fitted with Azipod propulsion system since the 1990s and the success of the electric podded propulsion units has paved the way for competitors such as the
143:
than the conventional propulsion system when it was first installed in the 1990s. In the meantime, improvements to the conventional designs have shrunk the gap to 6–8%, but on the other hand the hydrodynamic flow around the Azipod has been improved by fin retrofits and a dynamic computer optimization
127:
usually faces forward because in this pulling (or tractor) configuration the propeller is more efficient due to operation in undisturbed flow. Because it can rotate around its mount axis, the pod can apply its thrust in any direction. Azimuth thrusters allow ships to be more maneuverable and enable
260:
MW Azipod units considerably increased the icegoing ability of the vessels that were already built with independent icebreaking capability in mind. Since the 1990s, the vast majority of ships capable of operating in ice without icebreaker escort have been fitted with Azipod propulsion system.
225:, Finland. After the refit, the vessel's icebreaking performance was considerably increased and she was also found out to be capable of breaking ice astern (backwards). This discovery of a new operating mode eventually led to the development of the
264:
The first three Azipod units were of so-called "pushing" type in which the propeller is mounted behind the gondola. In the subsequent installations, ABB adopted the more efficient "pulling" configuration similar to propeller-driven airplanes.
811:
197:
for the development of a new type of electric propulsion unit. Prior to this, the companies had been working together for decades in the field of diesel-electric propulsion systems and in the 1980s produced the first icebreakers with
360:
The latest design, the Azipod X, incorporates these improvements, with a view to a service interval of five years, and features bearings that can be taken apart and repaired from inside the pod while the ship is harbored normally.
104:
that allow rotating the propeller about a vertical axis. This type of propulsion system has a long tradition throughout the 1990s and today such propulsion units are produced by a number of companies around the world.
321:
Another further development of the original electric podded propulsion concept is the
Compact Azipod, a smaller Azipod unit introduced in the early 2000s. It is intended for smaller ships such as research vessels and
833:
899:
877:
545:
128:
them to travel backward nearly as efficiently as they can travel forward. In order for the full capabilities of podded propulsion units to be realized in commercial service, shiphandling training on
108:
In the Azipod unit, the electric motor is mounted inside the propulsion unit and the propeller is connected directly to the motor shaft. Electric power for the propulsion motor is conducted through
855:
808:
182:
244:
Following the encouraging experiences from the prototype installation, the development of the Azipod concept continued and the next units were retrofitted on two
Finnish oil tankers,
830:
434:
57:
gondola ("pod") containing the electric motor driving the propeller, allowing ships to be more maneuverable. They were developed in
Finland in the late 1980s jointly by
896:
874:
345:
thrust in stationkeeping applications. Unlike the full-sized Azipod units which are assembled in
Finland, the Compact Azipod units are manufactured in China.
552:
409:
980:
112:
that let the Azipod unit rotate 360 degrees about the vertical axis. Because Azipod units utilize fixed-pitch propellers, power is always fed through a
949:
852:
144:
of the respective operating angles of the pods in multipod installations, thereby yielding overall efficiency improvements now in the range of 18%.
666:
516:
756:
787:
337:
which is directly cooled by sea water. For drilling vessels, it is also available in "pushing" configuration and can be fitted with a
213:
MW unit, dubbed "Azipod" (short for azimuthing electric podded drive) was installed on the 1979-built
Finnish fairway support vessel
767:
499:
209:
The development of the prototype started in 1989 and the first unit was ready for installation in the following year. The 1.5
752:
Juurmaa, K et al.: The development of the new double acting ships for ice operation. Kvaerner Masa-Yards Arctic
Technology,
452:
920:
692:
639:
587:
333:
that may utilize up to eight such propulsors. The smaller Azipod
Compact differs from the full-size unit by its
984:
283:
956:
315:
1015:
334:
734:
719:
1010:
294:
287:
133:
113:
24:
670:
301:
520:
928:
924:
308:
753:
629:
186:
62:
784:
604:
489:
410:"ABB's Azipod® azimuth thruster system wins the Finnish Engineering Award and 30 000 euros"
370:
256:, in 1993 and 1994, respectively. Nearly eight times as powerful as the prototype, the 11.4
194:
58:
8:
764:
390:
327:
218:
199:
233:
was refitted with new propulsion system in the 2000s, the prototype unit was donated to
575:
226:
474:
Marine
Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery: The Journal of Ships' Engineering Systems
635:
610:
583:
495:
330:
100:
inside the ship's hull. The propeller is coupled to the prime mover with shafts and
73:
46:
375:
338:
273:
166:
42:
19:
449:
903:
881:
859:
837:
815:
791:
771:
760:
577:
472:
456:
385:
279:
140:
654:
203:
117:
93:
710:
Cycloconverters for the new icebreaker from
Kymmene-Strömberg. Navigator 1985.
129:
1004:
614:
234:
97:
342:
354:
269:
245:
161:
The first Azipod unit, installed on the
Finnish fairway support vessel
101:
69:
251:
124:
109:
50:
579:
Transactions – The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
546:"Experience with Azipod propulsion systems on board marine vessels"
357:
service disruptions with the bigger Azipod V design have occurred.
222:
54:
120:
that allows speed and direction control of the propulsion motors.
720:
1. Dynamosta Azipodiin – vuosikymmenien kokemukset jäänmurtajista
380:
185:
made a co-operation proposal to the electrical equipment company
174:
89:
85:
576:
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (U.S.) (1994).
517:"Ruoripotkurilaitteiden liiketoiminta Suomessa, TEKES, 258/2009"
157:
950:"Industry Features - Experiences with Azipod propulsion (ABB)"
323:
238:
170:
76:
for podded propulsion units manufactured by other companies.
969:– via Active Communications International - WPL Group.
353:
During the initial years in service, some widely publicised
897:
ABB Propulsion Products for Main Propulsion and Thrusters
631:
Shipboard Propulsion, Power Electronics, and Ocean Energy
190:
282:
Mermaid. Among the vessels fitted with Azipod units are
602:
694:
Mekaanisen ja sähköisen propulsiojärjestelmän esittely
785:
New ice breaking tanker concept for the arctic (DAT)
582:. Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
690:
314:cruise ships, each of which held the title of the
139:The podded design typically achieved a 9% better
1002:
921:"Carnival's Paradise Coming To Yard For Repairs"
918:
804:
802:
800:
627:
487:
794:. Kvaerner Masa-Yards Arctic Technology, 1995.
735:ABB-teknologiat: Azipod®-propulsiojärjestelmät
684:
543:
84:In the conventional azimuth thrusters such as
65:and the Finnish National Board of Navigation.
797:
691:Hepo-oja, Anssi; Mäki-Kuutti, Viktor (2012).
667:"Azipod propulsion drives take the next step"
544:Pakaste, Risto; et al. (February 1999).
700:. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.
659:
514:
491:The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America
348:
983:. Wplgroup.com. 2012-02-13. Archived from
648:
669:. Skipsrevyen. March 2011. Archived from
621:
569:
481:
92:thrusters, the propeller is driven by an
609:. Lakeside Publishing Co. pp. 42–.
494:. Cornell Maritime Press. pp. 53–.
156:
18:
508:
1003:
890:
777:
748:
746:
713:
596:
537:
272:fitted with Azipod propulsion units,
183:Finnish National Board of Navigation
947:
743:
13:
981:"Propulsion Systems by ABB Marine"
655:Port Revel Pod Shiphandling course
335:permanent magnet synchronous motor
68:Although "Azipod" is a registered
14:
1027:
229:concept in the early 1990s. When
165:in 1990, is now displayed at the
49:unit consisting of a fixed pitch
809:References – Propulsion Products
603:Lakeside Publishing Co. (2002).
316:largest cruise ship in the world
973:
941:
919:Fredrickson, Tom (2000-07-22).
912:
868:
846:
824:
728:
704:
477:. Riviera Maritime Media. 2005.
16:Electric drive azimuth thruster
465:
450:Inside view: What makes QM2 go
443:
437:. Markkinaoikeus, 8 May 2018.
428:
402:
193:) and the Finnish shipbuilder
152:
1:
396:
284:Royal Caribbean International
634:. CRC Press. pp. 188–.
519:(in Finnish). Archived from
72:, it is sometimes used as a
7:
364:
10:
1032:
902:February 25, 2014, at the
880:February 24, 2014, at the
147:
136:is required for the crew.
79:
908:Retrieved 2014-04-26.
886:Retrieved 2014-04-26.
864:Retrieved 2014-04-26.
842:Retrieved 2014-04-26.
831:6.11. Azipod ® propulsion
820:Retrieved 2014-04-26.
739:Retrieved 2016-02-12.
724:Retrieved 2013-10-05.
461:Retrieved 2014-04-26.
439:Retrieved 2019-02-18.
318:at the time of delivery.
628:Mukund R. Patel (2012).
488:Brian J. Cudahy (2001).
349:Bearing-related problems
114:variable-frequency drive
925:Newport News, Virginia
328:dynamically positioned
237:and put on display in
202:propulsion motors and
178:
35:
160:
22:
371:Manoeuvring thruster
783:Juurmaa, K et al.:
391:Rim-driven thruster
219:Hietalahti shipyard
200:alternating current
169:maritime museum in
1016:Finnish inventions
948:Lehtelä, Antti J.
906:. ABB, June 2012.
858:2014-04-26 at the
836:2014-04-26 at the
814:2014-06-11 at the
790:2012-03-03 at the
770:2012-09-04 at the
759:2012-03-03 at the
455:2013-01-21 at the
268:The world's first
227:double acting ship
179:
36:
23:Closeup of one of
1011:Marine propulsion
515:Tammiaho, Erkki.
501:978-0-87033-529-7
416:. 1 December 2021
74:generic trademark
47:marine propulsion
41:is a trademarked
1023:
996:
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955:. Archived from
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551:. Archived from
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469:
463:
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459:. Beyond Ships.
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376:Azimuth thruster
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43:azimuth thruster
33:
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978:
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904:Wayback Machine
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882:Wayback Machine
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860:Wayback Machine
851:
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838:Wayback Machine
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816:Wayback Machine
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772:Wayback Machine
761:Wayback Machine
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457:Wayback Machine
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386:Cycloidal drive
367:
351:
257:
210:
204:cycloconverters
195:Wärtsilä Marine
155:
150:
141:fuel efficiency
82:
59:Wärtsilä Marine
34:MW Azipod units
31:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1029:
1019:
1018:
1013:
998:
997:
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911:
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853:Compact Azipod
845:
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727:
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641:978-1439888506
640:
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589:978-0939773152
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118:cycloconverter
94:electric motor
81:
78:
45:pod design, a
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1028:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
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987:on 2013-12-30
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962:on 2013-12-30
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722:. ABB Group.
721:
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673:on 2013-10-02
672:
668:
662:
656:
651:
643:
637:
633:
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607:
606:Cruise Travel
599:
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585:
581:
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558:on 2014-03-27
554:
547:
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526:on 2010-12-08
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331:drilling rigs
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235:Forum Marinum
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184:
181:In 1987, the
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167:Forum Marinum
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134:manned models
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98:diesel engine
95:
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53:mounted on a
52:
48:
44:
40:
29:
28:
21:
989:. Retrieved
985:the original
975:
964:. Retrieved
957:the original
943:
932:. Retrieved
914:
892:
870:
848:
826:
779:
730:
715:
706:
693:
686:
675:. Retrieved
671:the original
661:
650:
630:
623:
605:
598:
578:
571:
560:. Retrieved
553:the original
539:
528:. Retrieved
521:the original
510:
490:
483:
473:
467:
445:
430:
418:. Retrieved
413:
404:
359:
352:
343:bollard pull
341:to increase
320:
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252:
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208:
180:
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138:
122:
107:
83:
67:
38:
37:
26:
929:Daily Press
355:cruise ship
326:as well as
280:Rolls-Royce
270:cruise ship
241:, Finland.
153:Development
102:bevel gears
25:USCGC
1005:Categories
991:2013-09-24
966:2012-12-27
934:2013-09-24
677:2013-09-24
562:2012-12-25
530:2013-12-05
435:MAO:249/18
397:References
130:simulators
123:The pod's
110:slip rings
70:brand name
615:0199-5111
187:Strömberg
125:propeller
63:Strömberg
55:steerable
51:propeller
900:Archived
878:Archived
875:Azipod C
856:Archived
834:Archived
812:Archived
788:Archived
768:Archived
757:Archived
453:Archived
420:11 April
365:See also
223:Helsinki
27:Mackinaw
884:. ABB.
862:. ABB.
840:. ABB.
818:. ABB.
737:. ABB.
381:Z-drive
296:Freedom
289:Voyager
275:Elation
189:(later
175:Finland
148:History
90:L-drive
86:Z-drive
80:Concept
638:
613:
586:
498:
339:nozzle
324:yachts
312:-class
258:
211:
39:Azipod
32:
30:'s 3.3
960:(PDF)
953:(PDF)
698:(PDF)
556:(PDF)
549:(PDF)
524:(PDF)
303:Oasis
253:Lunni
247:Uikku
239:Turku
231:Seili
215:Seili
171:Turku
163:Seili
96:or a
765:2002
763:and
754:2001
636:ISBN
611:ISSN
584:ISBN
496:ISBN
422:2023
310:Icon
307:and
250:and
132:and
88:and
414:TEK
286:'s
221:in
217:at
191:ABB
116:or
1007::
927::
923:.
799:^
745:^
412:.
300:,
293:,
206:.
173:,
61:,
994:.
937:.
774:.
680:.
644:.
617:.
592:.
565:.
533:.
504:.
424:.
305:-
298:-
291:-
177:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
