Azipod is the registered brand name of the ABB Group for their azimuth thruster. Originally developed in Finland jointly by Kvaerner Masa-Yards dockyards and ABB, these are marine propulsion units consisting of electrically driven propellers mounted on a steerable pod.
The pod's propeller usually faces forward, as in this puller (or tractor) configuration, the propeller is more efficient. Because it can rotate around its mount axis, the pod can apply its thrust in 360 degrees. Azimuth thrusters allow ships to be more maneuverable and enable them to travel backward nearly as easily as they can travel forward. The Azipod concept is not practical for use on warships because it is too easily damaged; integrating propulsion with rudder steering makes it both easier to damage or destroy.[citation needed]
The new CRP (Contra Rotating Propellers) Azipod places a counter rotating azipod propeller behind a fixed propeller achieving improved fuel efficiency[1].
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Azipod concept
In the traditional azimuth propulsion system the (electric) motor is located inside the ship's hull and rotation is transferred to the propeller through a gearbox. In the Azipod system the electric motor is installed inside the pod, and the propeller is connected directly to the motor shaft on the front of the unit. Since no propeller shaft is required, the pod can be located under the stern of the ship in a clear flow of water providing greater hydrodynamic and mechanical efficiency.
Electric power for the Azipod motor is conducted through slip rings that allow the Azipod to rotate through 360 degrees. Because fixed pitch propellers are used in Azipods, power for an Azipod system is always fed through a variable-frequency drive or cycloconverter that allows speed and direction control of the propulsion motors.
Ships with Azipod thrusters
Cruise ships
- Carnival Corporation & plc
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Carnival Miracle, 2004
- Carnival Legend, 2002
- Carnival Pride, 2001
- Carnival Spirit, 2001
- Carnival Paradise, 1998[2]
- Carnival Elation, 1998
- Costa Cruises
- Costa Deliziosa, 2010
- Costa Luminosa, 2009
- Costa Mediterranea, 2003
- Costa Atlantica, 2000
- P&O Cruises
- Arcadia, 2005
- Holland America Line (HAL)
- Cunard Line
- Queen Elizabeth, 2010
- Queen Victoria, 2006
- Queen Mary 2, 2004
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)
- Royal Caribbean International (RCI)
- Oasis Class
- Allure of the Seas, 2010
- Oasis of the Seas, 2009
- Freedom Class
- Independence of the Seas 2008
- Liberty of the Seas 2007
- Freedom of the Seas 2005
- Voyager Class
- Mariner of the Seas, 2003
- Navigator of the Seas, 2002
- Adventure of the Seas, 2001
- Explorer of the Seas, 2000
- Voyager of the Seas, 1999
- Radiance Class
- Jewel of the Seas, 2004
- Serenade of the Seas, 2003
- Brilliance of the Seas, 2002
- Radiance of the Seas, 2001
- Oasis Class
- Celebrity Cruises
- Solstice Class
- Celebrity Eclipse, 2010
- Celebrity Equinox, 2009
- Celebrity Solstice, 2008
- Solstice Class
- Royal Caribbean International (RCI)
- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
- Norwegian Gem, 2007
- Norwegian Pearl, 2006
- Norwegian Jade, 2005
- Norwegian Jewel, 2004
- Norwegian Dawn, 2002
- Norwegian Star, 2001
- Hapag-Lloyd
- Europa, 1999
- Shinnihonkai Ferry
- Akashia, 2004
- Hamanasu, 2004
Cargo Vessels
- Donsötank
- MT Excello, 2008
Ice Shuttle Tanker / Double Acting Tankers (DAT)
- Fortum Shipping Company
- MT Tempera, 2002
- MT Mastera, 2002
- Sovcomflot
- Kirill Lavrov, Under construction
- Mikhail Ulyanov, Under construction
- Timofey Guzhenko, 2009
- Kapitan Gotsky, 2008
- Vasily Dinkov, 2007
Utility Vessels
See also
- A similar but competing product is the Rolls-Royce Mermaid azimuth thruster.[3][4] This is the thruster on the Queen Mary 2.
- Finnish Maritime Cluster
Notes
- ^ http://www.maritime-suppliers.com/imidocs/90580P007%20CRP%20Azipod.pdf
- ^ "Podded Propulsion Systems". Marinelog.com. http://marinelog.com/DOCS/PRINT/mmipods.html. Retrieved 2007-12-03. "As has been well publicized, not all has been smooth running for the Azipod. Last July [year is not stated] there was a malfunction in the propeller bearing system of one of the Azipod propulsion system onboard Carnival’s 1998-built Paradise. The ship, following the failure of the starboard Azipod unit, was drydocked immediately at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), where the first ever repair to an Azipod system in a United States repair yard was carried out."
- ^ "Electrical Pod". Rolls Royce Marine. http://www1.rolls-royce.com/marine/products/propulsion/electrical_pod/default.jsp. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ "Podded Propulsion". Marinelog.com. http://marinelog.com/DOCS/PRINT/mmipods2.html. Retrieved 2007-12-03. "However, the Mermaid, too, has had its teething problems. In January [year not stated], Celebrity Cruises announced yesterday that it was placing the ship Millennium in dry dock for two weeks to repair what it described as an “under-performing electric motor” in one of the ship’s two propulsion units."
External links
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