ABB says Oceanco contract paves way for sustainable superyachts

Sustainable yacht concept illustration. [Image: ABB]

ABB says that an agreement with Dutch luxury yacht builder Oceanco paves the way for broader cooperation on sustainable electric propulsion in a market expected to exceed $10 billion by 2025.

Under the initial agreement, ABB will supply Oceanco with two 2.5 MW Azipod units, together with with propulsion drives and controls, for a superyacht built to the highest sustainability standards.

The Azipod podded propulsion system is in use in a broad variety of vessel types from cruise ships to tankers and ferries and ABB says that the scalability of the technology makes it equally well-suited to the environmentally conscious superyacht sector, a market where owners also place special value on the highest comfort standards brought by lower noise and vibrations.

“With Oceanco’s ultimate goal of zero impact on the environment, we are delighted to collaborate with ABB Marine & Ports, whose leading-edge technologies are known for delivering the sustainability benefits increasingly sought by superyacht owners,” said Remco Jurgens, naval architect, Oceanco. The two companies are assessing the potential for the integration of complete power and propulsion systems in future projects, he added.

“We are very pleased to have closed this first deal with Oceanco, and we look forward to collaborating in the future,” said Thomas Hackman, Market Development Manager, Superyachts, ABB Marine & Ports. “Our two companies share an ethos of sustainable business development that provides a strong foundation for our relationship.”

Both companies have recently underlined their commitment to sustainable development . As part of its Sustainability strategy 2030 launched in November 2020, ABB will achieve carbon neutrality across its own operations and will support its customers in reducing their annual CO2 emissions by at least 100 megatonnes, equivalent to the annual emissions of 30 million conventional cars. Meanwhile, the superyacht builder has launched the Oceanco NXT initiative to collaborate with partners across different business sectors with the ultimate aim of designing and building zero-emission superyachts.

“We see ABB as a leading supplier and an essential partner for future developments,” said Jurgens. “Efficient energy management systems, energy storage, and advanced propulsion systems are considered fundamental to achieving our goal.”

An additional benefit for Oceanco and its client is ABB’s worldwide support network, providing round-the-clock advice and the capability to leverage the ABB Ability Remote Diagnostics System for equipment monitoring and troubleshooting.