The 190mtr long vessel with accommodation for 298 passengers is aimed at providing a more bespoke service than larger cruise ships.
The pioneering nature of the project is matched by ABB’s solutions that will optimize energy efficiency and allow the vessel to be remotely monitored from shore.
Two Azipod D propulsors will enable the ship to maneuver efficiently and effectively whilst the Remote Diagnostics Service will empower a smarter approach to maintenance.
Juha Koskela, md of ABB’s Marine and Ports Business said, ‘We have been serving the cruise industry for three decades. Our efforts during the last 10 years in building up a solid global network to serve the increasing number of customers have been fruitful. Now new partners wish to make use of this experience.’
The Azipod D is ideal for smaller vessels because of its lower installed power, noted Koskela.
Azipod propulsion has gained its strong position in the passenger segment by making it possible to do away with bulky traditional shaft line systems, with the electric motor installed in a pod outside the hull, freeing up space for more cabins. The thrusters’ ability to turn in all directions increases ships access to ports without tug assistance, with the vessel in this case operating in New England, Caribbean and Mediterranean waters.
Since its first installation more than 25 years ago, Azipod propulsion has clocked up over 13m running hours with an availability of 99.8%.
Captain Erik Bredhe, marine operations director at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection said, ‘When we set out to design and build an ultra-luxury cruise yacht for the Ritz-Carlton brand, we wanted to select the critical systems and equipment from among the most experienced suppliers known for their reliability and quality. The obvious choice for power and propulsion was ABB, and we expect them to meet and exceed our quality standards as partners for many years.’
The Azipod units, along with all elements included in the ABB medium voltage power plant, will be installed with sensors to produce data that can be tracked from shore by both the customer and the ABB Ability Collaborative Operations Centers. This will allow for a more informed approach during routine maintenance.
The ship being built at H.J. Astilleros Barreras in Spain is scheduled to set sail in 2019.
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